Zoren Legaspi summoned to DOJ probe on tax evasion raps

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has summoned actor-director Zoren Legaspi to a preliminary investigation in connection with the P4.45-million tax evasion complaint filed against him by the Bureau of Internal Revenue.

In a subpoena, Assistant State Prosecutor Stewart Allan Mariano ordered Legaspi to appear before the DOJ at 10 a.m. on Wednesday.

“He was hereby warned that failure on his part to comply with the subpoena shall be considered as a waiver to present his defense in the preliminary investigation and the case shall be considered submitted for resolution based on complainant's evidence,” Mariano said.

According to the BIR, Legaspi “willfully attempted to evade or defeat tax and deliberate failure to supply correct and accurate information in his income tax returns” in 2010 and 2012.

The bureau said the actor-director violated Sections 254 and 255 of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended or the Tax Code.

In a letter of authority, the BIR asked Legaspi to let the examiners look at books of accounts and other accounting records related to his income and tax payments.

Based on "Alpha Lists" provided by the BIR Information Systems and Development Operations Service (ISDOS), Legaspi earned P9.64 million in 2010 and P6.49 million in 2012.

The BIR ISDOS also gave investigators a copy of Legaspi's income tax returns for 2010 and 2012.

However, Legaspi merely declared an income of P6.79 million in 2010 and P1.82 million in 2012, according to the BIR.

Those numbers showed Legaspi under-declared his income by P2.85 million or 42 percent in 2010 and by P4.67 million or 256 percent in 2012, the bureau said.

The bottom line, according to the BIR, is that Legaspi incurred an income tax liability of P4.45 million, including surcharges and interest. —Mark Merueñas/KBK, GMA News