BIR files complaint vs. Sunwest, execs over P22.7B tax liability

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) on Friday filed a complaint before the Department of Justice (DOJ) against Sunwest Inc. and its top officers for tax evasion over an estimated P22.71 billion deficiency income tax liability.

Among the respondents are Sunwest president Aderma Alcazar and treasurer Cesar Zacarias Buenaventura, according to the bureau.

"The BIR examined the tax compliance of the entities concerned,” BIR Commissioner Charlito Mendoza said in a statement..

“When our investigation establishes willful violations of the National Internal Revenue Code, we will not hesitate to file the appropriate criminal cases against the corporation and its responsible officers," he added.

The bureau said it found that they “willfully undeclared its income, claimed unsubstantiated purchases and expenses, and properly claimed creditable withholding tax (CWT) credits in its income tax returns (ITRs) from 2019 to 2024."

They were charged with violation of Sections 254 and 255 of the National Internal Revenue Code (NIRC) of 1997, as amended, under the Run After Tax Evaders (RATE) Program.

According to the BIR, it issued a subpoena to Sunwest in February 2026 to produce its books of accounts, accounting records, and supporting documents.

However, it said the corporation failed to comply.

It said it reconciled the company’s records with third-party information from the Department of Public Works and Highways, National Power Corporation, and Philippine Ports Authority, which disclosed undeclared income totaling P6.29 billion for taxable years 2019 to 2024.

The BIR said it disallowed P36.63 billion in purchases, P3.65 billion in expenses, and P291.12 million in unsupported creditable withholding tax claims.

“Based on these findings, the BIR assessed Sunwest, Inc. a total deficiency income tax liability of P22.71 billion, inclusive of surcharge, interest, and compromise penalties, for taxable years 2019 to 2024,” the bureau said. —AOL, GMA News