THE Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) filed complaints for tax evasion against 127 corporations over tax liabilities amounting to P6 billion.
“Nandito po tayo ngayon sa DOJ (Department of Justice), nagsagawa po tayo ng pangalawa nating nationwide filing ng kaso laban sa mga kumpanya, sa mga corporate officers dahil sa hindi pagbabayad ng buwis,” BIR chief Romeo “Jun” Lumagui said in an ambush interview.
In its press release, the BIR said the complaints were filed against 214 corporate officers.
Lumagui said they found that some of the corporations did not remit their withholding tax, or the money deducted by an employer from employees, and their value-added tax to the BIR.
“Dahil ang witholding tax kinukuha ng kumpanya… kinaltasan nila ng buwis ‘yung kanilang mga empleyado. Ang obligasyon nila as witholding agents ay kailangan nila ibigay ito sa BIR,” Lumagui said.
“So binayaran na buwis ‘yan ng empleyado at kumita pa sila dahil ang ginawa nila, kinuha nila, kinaltasan nila ang empleyado, tinago nila, at hindi nila ni-remit dito sa amin,” he added.
According to Lumagui, some corporations also failed to answer notices from the agency.
“Ang ginagawa kasi diyan kadalasan hindi pinapansin ang aming proseso. Magpapadala kami ng letter of authority, io-audit namin dahil kasi meron kaming makikitang red flag o mali sa kanilang pagre-report ng revenues o sa kanilang pagre-report ng expenses,” he said.
“‘Yung iba hindi pinapansin ang proseso namin. Pagka pinapaldahan namin sila kahit natanggap nila ay hindi pinapansin dahil iniisip nila wala namang patutunguhan ang audit process namin,” he added.
According to Lumagui, there are companies involved in manufacturing, retail, importation, and construction. He said some companies are “worth billions.”
Lumagui, meanwhile, called on businesses to pay their taxes and to heed notices from the agency.
“Kapag nakatanggap kayo ng sulat o letter of authority galing sa BIR ay pansinin niyo ito dahil kung hindi niyo ito pansinin ay matutuloy tuloy ang aming audit at magkakaroon kayo ng assessment,” he added. (GMA Integrated News)
