BIR files tax P68-M tax evasion case vs towels-and-linens proprietor, CPA

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has filed tax evasion charges against the proprietor of a firm that supplies towels and linens to some duty free outlets, supermarkets and top-notch hotels. The alleged tax liability summed up to P67.79 million.   In its complaint submitted to the Department of Justice, the BIR said entrepreneur Teresita Develuz Aslam failed to supply correct and accurate information in her Income Tax Return (ITR) and Value Added Tax (VAT) Return for taxable years 2009 and 2010.   Aslam is the sole proprietor and owner of Hudges Industries with business address at Unit 107-A Paradise Building, Palm Grove BLS, Don Bosco, Parañaque City.    The BIR also charged was Amado Nagar Sarto, the certified public accountant, who certified the financial statements of Aslam for 2009 and 2010.   In a post on the website of the Department of Finance, the Run After Tax Evaders (RATE) task force of the BIR listed these firms as among Aslam’s clients:  

• Puregold Duty Free Subic, Inc.
• Puregold Duty Free, Inc.
• Aboitiz Transport System Corp.
• EVER
• Makati Shangri-la Hotel and Resort, Inc.
• Manila Hotel
• Manila Polo Club
• Marie-France Bodyline International
• Robinsons Inc.
• Rustan Commercial Corp.
• Sofitel Philippine Plaza
• The Peninsula Manila
• Gaisano Dadiangas, Inc.
• Megaworld Corporation
• Waterfront Management Corp.

  “Certifications of income payments obtained from Puregold and an examination of the copies of the schedule of purchases from ASLAM which were extracted from the Summary List of Purchases (SLP) filed with the agency by ASLAM’s customers revealed that ASLAM received income payments amounting to P84.59 million in 2009 and P85.66 million in 2010,” BIR’s RATE said.   The RATE task force also explained that “a comparison of the ITR filed by ASLAM and the data gathered by BIR investigators showed an under-declaration of sales of more than 30%. Under the Tax Code, an under-declaration of more than 30% constitutes fraud tantamount to tax evasion.”   Total deficiency tax liability of Aslam as assessed of P67.79 million, including  surcharges and interests, were broken down as follows: Income Tax – P32.58 million (2009) and P35.21 million (2010) and VAT – P9.97 million (2009) and P12.17 million (2010).   The RATE task force said the case against Aslam and Sarto is the 109th set of RATE charges since Commissioner Kim S. Jacinto-Henares took the reins of the BIR. — ELR, GMA News