By Paul Ang
THREE cigarette retailers in Binondo, Manila, were slapped by a total of P304,240 tax-evasion case by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) for selling cigarettes without tax stamps on Wednesday.
Officials of BIR RDO No. 31 of the Revenue Region No. 6 headed by Regional Director lawyer Arnel Guballa have personally filed the charges at lawyer Edward Togonon, City Prosecutor of the Manila City Prosecutors Office.
Charged with cases of unlawful possession or removal of articles subject to excise tax without payment of tax, in violation of section 263 of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997 were Samson Bargan Sy of Dongnanya Mini Mart, Kareene Villanueva of Keisha Mart and Henderson Jacla of Min-Shun Trading.
Guballa said the appraised value of the seized cigarettes from the three establishments were estimated to have a total of P 304,240, and their estimated basic excise tax liabilities based on the values were at P56,610.
He further added that the three cigarette retailers were all registered taxpayers of RDO 31, and they have been conducting surveillance on the operations of the stores. The said actions were made after the BIR had been receiving reports that the three retailers were selling cigarettes without the required internal-revenue tax stamps as mandated under existing tax laws, rules and regulations.
“We have immediately seized and confiscated the cigarettes on the said stores, which have been found not bearing any required tax stamps. They will face tax-evasion charges before the court,” Guballa said.
BIR, meantime, reminded the public to pay their taxes properly and on time because the revenue department continues to strengthen its Run After Tax Evaders program.
Image credits: Rudy Esperas