BIR files P18-B tax evasion raps vs. 3 companies

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) on Wednesday filed with the Department of Justice (DOJ) a criminal complaint against three companies for alleged tax evasion through the use of fake receipts.

In an ambush interview following the filing, BIR Commissioner Romeo “Jun” Lumagui said the respondents bought fake or ghost receipts to reduce their tax liabilities.

Due to this, he said the respondents have an estimated tax liability of around P18 billion, including penalties and interest.

“Itong mga bumibili ng pekeng resibo na ito, ito ay mga lehitimong negosyante na ang layunin nila mapababa ang kanilang babayarang buwis, ang income tax, at saka ‘yung value-added tax na baka dapat nilang bayaran,” Lumagui said.

(These companies buying fake receipts are legitimate businesses that aim to reduce their taxes, income tax, and value-added tax.)

Lumagui said the companies have been purchasing the receipts since 2018. He also said the respondents include a family that both sold and bought "ghost" receipts.

“Bukod sa nagbebenta na ng pekeng resibo, na kailangan nila bayaran ‘yan, eh ‘yung negosyo nila bumibili ng mga resibong ito. Kaya ang laki ng nawawalang fees. Bilyon-bilyon agad ang liability ng isang kumpanya pa lang na ‘yan,” he said.

(Aside from selling fake receipts, which they also need to pay for, their company also buys these fake receipts. That’s why the lost fee is huge. There are already billions worth of liabilities in just this company alone.)

Lumagui said they also filed a complaint against the accountants involved in the practice.

“Sa sinampa nating kaso ngayon laban sa tatlong kumpanya, kasama po diyan ang accountant na nag-audit ng financial statements nitong tatlong kumpanya na ito,” he said.

(Included as respondents are the accountants who audited the financial statements of these three companies.

Meanwhile, the BIR chief said they are seeking to file more complaints against around 1,000 companies with an estimated tax liability of around P500 billion.  —KBK, GMA Integrated News