THE Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) warned celebrities and influencers against endorsing illicit vape products.
The BIR earlier filed tax evasion charges worth P8.7 billion against 3 vape brands.
“Iligal ang pagbebenta or mere possession ng mga vape products na hindi bayad ng excise tax. Considered unlawful na ‘yan at may violation under tax code. So lahat ng involved sa mga pagbebenta ng vape products ay madadamay sa kasong tax evasion,” Commissioner Romeo Lumagui, Jr. said.
“Paalala natin sa mga nag-e-endorse o magiging involved sa vape products, siguraduhin nating vape products natin ay rehistrado at nagbabayad ng karampatang buwis,” he added.
BIR earlier said the vape firms were being charged with unlawful possession of vape products without payment of excise tax, tax evasion, and failure to file excise tax returns under the National Internal Revenue Code.
In 2024, the BIR said that it confiscated 560,000 units of vape products with a total of P415 million in tax liabilities.
Lumagui has said that the illicit trade of tobacco and vape products has been costing the government billions of pesos in lost revenues. (ABS-CBN News)
