BIR files 53 tax-evasion complaints amounting to P3.5B

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) on Thursday filed 53 complaints of tax evasion amounting to P3.5 billion against erring individuals and corporate taxpayers nationwide.

Of the total 74 complaints, 53 were submitted for filing with the  Department of Justice amounting to P3.56 billion, and 21 were filed locally amounting to P15.9 million.

“Ang total amount nito ay estimated about P3.58 billion, ang total na tax liabilities na naisampa natin ngayon. Nationwide ulit ito, buong Pilipinas,” BIR Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr. said in an interview.

(The total estimated amount is P3.58 billion in tax liabilities that we filed today, nationwide.)

Also, the BIR said the respondents were charged with willful failure to pay taxes, willful attempt to evade or defeat the payment of tax dues, and willful failure to pay/remit their income tax liabilities.

“Ginawa natin ‘yan dahil gusto natin na mai-convey sa ating publiko, sa ating mamayan, na lalo na darating ang tax filing season na siguraduhin natin na kapag nag fa-file tayo ng returns natin, bayaran natin ng tama ang karampatang buwis natin kung hindi sasampahan tayo ng kaso,” Lumagui said.

(We did this because we want to convey to the public, especially that the filing season is nearing, to ensure that if we file our returns, we pay the correct tax or risk facing complaints.)

Many of the respondents also declared their own taxes, according to Lumagui.

“Kaya minsan nakikita natin na scheme na ito na mag fa-file lang sila ng returns pero hindi babayaran ang buwis. Ang inaasahan siguro nila hindi natin titignan ito, na oras na mag file lang sila ng return hindi namin imo-monitor kung bayad ba talaga ang buwis na dinideklera nila mismo,” he said.

[Sometimes we noticed this scheme where they file their returns but fail to pay the appropriate taxes. But we are able to monitor if they have paid the right tax amount.] —LBG, GMA Integrated News