BIR runs after firms not issuing receipts

The SMS-based raffle project motivating consumers to demand official receipts has penalized companies for illegal or irregular issuance of receipts since its launch in June 2006. In a statement, listed PhilWeb Corp. said 13,404 firms have been fined by the Bureau of Internal Revenue based on the data of more than 20 million official receipts issued from over 1.2 million establishments nationwide. An important data source of identifying tax evaders, Premyo sa Resibo is a BIR flagship project in cooperation with Philweb. By comparing the tax identification number (TIN), receipt numbers and amounts sent in by Premyo sa Resibo entrants with the information in their databases, the BIR detects many different kinds of violations. These include receipts that are outright fakes; receipts from companies that are registered but supposedly not operating; receipts from companies that are operating and paying some taxes but issuing receipts outside the authorized series (keeping two sets of books). The most common violation, the BIR said, is the non-issuance of receipts. Its Ask For Receipt campaign and Premyo Sa Resibo have successfully made consumers aware that they need to demand official receipts and sales invoices for all their purchase of goods and services. Consumers can help improve the country’s tax collection efforts via mobile phone by texting details of receipts to 9777 as follows: PSR **. They also get the chance to win in the daily, weekly and bi-weekly P1 million draws. Consumers may also visit and enter receipt by going to the SM bills payment counters, customer service counters and mall information booths nationwide. Each raffle entry costs P2.50. By sending receipt details to Premyo Sa Resibo, entrants not only provide the BIR with data to catch tax cheats but also get the chance to become a millionaire. Premyo Sa Resibo has given away over P135 million worth of prizes 124 consumers from all over the country have been awarded P1 million cash each and over 600 winners have been awarded consolation prizes. To date, 41 percent of winners are from the National Capital Region, 37 percent from Luzon, 13 percent from Visayas and 10 percent from Mindanao.-Cheryl M. Arcibal, GMANews.TV