THE Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) yesterday filed criminal complaints against four “ghost” corporations involved in fake transactions with legitimate businesses for the evasion of taxes, which resulted in a revenue loss of P25.5 billion.
BIR chief Romeo Lumagui Jr. said the ghost companies sold fake services or transaction receipts, which their buyers used to deduct from their expenses or their value added tax (VAT).
“Itong sindikato na ito, nagtatayo talaga sila ng korporasyon. So ‘pag tinignan niyo… rehistrado ang mga korporasyon. ‘Yung resibo, nagkukuha sila ng totoong rehistradong resibo, pero hindi totoo ‘yung mga transaksyon,” Lumagui said.
“Hindi naman mabibiktima ang ordinary consumer dito dahil kasi hindi naman sila magbibigay ng resibo sa ordinary consumers dahil ang negosyo nila magbigay ng resibo sa mga bumibili para magamit as deductions,” he later added.
According to Lumagui, complaints were filed against Buildforce Trading Inc., Crazykitchen Foodtrade Corp., Decarich Supertrade Inc., and Redington Corporation before the Department of Justice (DOJ).
He added the complaint is the result of the raid conducted in December 2022.
“If you will recall, meron tayong nahuli na kumpanya na nagbebenta or actually a syndicate na selling fake receipts. ‘Yan ang kanilang negosyo. They have no transactions, they put up corporations specifically to sell fake receipts. ‘Yan ang binebenta nila,” Lumagui said.
The BIR chief said those found responsible may be imprisoned and fined.
He also called on ghost corporations to stop offering fake services for receipts, saying the BIR will file complaints against them.
“Sana po itong mga gumagawa ng ganitong uri na illegal na activity ay tigilan na natin dahil this time seryoso kami, tututukan namin ito, huhulihin namin kayo at kakasuhan namin kayo para matigil ito,” he said.
“‘Yung panawagan din natin sa mga bumibili ng mga ganitong resibo ay ‘wag na kayong gumamit ng ganitong resibo. ‘Wag na kayo bumili,” he added.
Justice secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said the government has barely touched the surface of “organized crime.”
He said the government’s revenue loss could reach P100 billion.
“We’re examining 24 computers and it looks like we will reach P100 billion at least sa mga value ng receipts generated by groups of companies organized to deceive the government through the fake receipts,” Remulla said.
He said they have a witness who informed them about the group’s modus operandi.
“Ang modus niyan every three years pinapalitan pa nila eh. Meron silang ginagamit na iba’t ibang kumpanya na iba’t ibang resibo,” Remulla said.
“They’re so organized. Their companies are incorporated, they have offices, they churn out receipts by the billions pero marami sa kumpanyang ito, isa lang ang empleyado,” he added.
He said the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group and the National Bureau of Investigation’s Anti-Organized Crime Office will work together to parse the evidence. (GMA Integrated News)
