BIR says it’s running after skincare entrepreneur ‘flexing’ on social media

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) on Thursday revealed that it is going after a beauty products and skincare entrepreneur engaged in e-commerce or online selling who has allegedly failed to pay the right amount of taxes to the government.

At the sidelines of the BIR’s 120th anniversary celebration in Pasay City—during which the bureau unveiled its new logo—Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr. said that the BIR recently raided the warehouses of the entrepreneur, whom he did not identify, and found that these facilities were not registered.

“Tatlong warehouse niya ang unregistered [Three of their warehouses are unregistered],” Lumagui said, adding that the BIR has already subpoenaed the individual.

“Nagfe-flex sa social media na bilyon-bilyon ang kinikita… sinasabi bata pa lang, bilyon na ang kinikita… tapos bilyonaryo na, pero hindi nagbabayad ng buwis [They're flexing on social media that they are earning billions, but they're not paying taxes],” the BIR chief said.

Without going into further details, Lumagui said the taxman is mulling file a tax violation complaint against the entrepreneur.

“Ang dami pa rin natin nakikita ang mga unregistered warehouses na kung saan nandyan nakatago ang mga produkto nitong mga malalaking negosyante na engaged diyan sa online na selling,” he said.

[We are seeing so many unregistered warehouses where these big online sellers are keeping their products.]

“Magbayad naman tayo, magrehistro naman tayo at ipakita naman natin na tinutulungan din natin ang ating bayan sa pamamagitan ng pagbayad ng buwis dahil maraming mga negosyante na nagbabayad ng buwis,” he added.

(Let's pay our taxes, let's register, and let's show that we are also helping our country by paying taxes, because many businesses pay taxes.)

In a bid to capture the growing e-commerce space, the BIR now requires merchants or sellers in online platforms to pay withholding tax, effective on July 15, 2024. — BM, GMA Integrated News