BIR slaps Pampanga contractor with P12-M tax evasion raps

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO— The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) filed a complaint with the Department of Justice against one Jeric Maninang for unlawful possession of articles subject to excise tax and unlawful pursuit of business in violation of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997.

It could be remembered that investigations showed that an abandoned Kia van truck with markings RPJ Dry Goods was impounded in Bacolor Municipal Police Station. Respondent Maninang introduced himself as the owner and was asked to open the truck. The police saw 60 boxes of assorted cigarette products of Marlboro and Philip Morris which were all wrapped in sacks.

Suspicious of its contents, the police reported their discovery and requested assistance from the BIR to validate the authenticity of the stamps in the cigarettes.

A total of 82 master cases and 49 reams of assorted cigarette products including Marlboro, Philip Morris, Fortune Tobacco, Mighty, Jackpot cigarettes were tested using two Taggant readers. Results of the Taggant reading recorded the stamps as invalid. No valid internal revenue stamps were found on the packs of cigarettes tested. The fourday testing showed that all the stamps were fake, according to the BIR.

Maninang, according to BIR, did not declare or register the said business with BIR. As a result, he failed to pay the annual registration fee according to the BIR.

“He was also not given authority to print receipts for his undertakings. As such, the receipts being used and issued by him in connection with the sale of the cigarettes were considered unregistered receipts,” the BIR said.

The BIR said that Maninang evaded the payment of correct taxes amounting to a total deficiency of P12,447,000 inclusive of increments.

The case against Maninang is the 110th filed under the Run After Tax Evaders (RATE) program of the BIR and also a RATE case of Revenue Region No. 4.