BIR files tax evasion charges against rice importer and her accountant

MANILA, Philippines - The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has filed tax evasion charges against a rice importer and her accountant.

In a filing yesterday at the Department of Justice, the BIR charged rice importer Teresita Je, owner of Jevon Enterprises and Rainerio Gomez, her certified public accountantt.

Information obtained by BIR investigators from the National Food Authority (NFA), the state-owned grains agency, revealed that Te imported rice amounting to P304 million in 2009.

However, based on her financial statements and income tax returns, Te declared only the amount of P20 million as her total amount of purchases, resulting in an underdeclaration of sales.

Gomez, the independent certified public accountant tapped by Te issued an unqualified opinion in his certification on his client’s financial statements. This was despite the substantial underdeclared reported revenues income in violation of the National Internal Revenue Code (NIRC).

Gomez is the fourth CPA charged by the BIR under the RATE program.

Based on the said data, the estimated aggregate deficiency tax liability of Te for the taxable period is P168.7 million inclusive of surchages and interest.

As this developed, the BIR also filed criminal charges against a retail establishment for its long overdue deficiency tax assessments, despite repeated demands by the BIR.

The agency filed charges against Erlinda Chong and Irene Chong, president and chief finance officer, respectively of Malison, Inc.

Investigation conducted by the BIR revenue officers found out that the value added tax (VAT) and income tax liabilities of Malison have reached P2.519 million.

The BIR has issued warnings and letters to Malison but to no avail.

The case against Malison, Inc. is the 30th case filed under the Run After Tax Evaders (RATE) program of the BIR under the administration of BIR Commissioner Kim Henares.

The agency is tasked to collect P940 billion this year, higher than its collection goal last year of P860 billion.