BIR seizes P2.7 billion vape products

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has confiscated more than 700,000 illegal vape products for violating excise tax laws, including non-registration of brands and other regulatory breaches.

The BIR reported yesterday that 742,778 vape products carried tax liabilities of P2.73 billion over unpaid excise taxes and missing internal revenue stamps.

“The government does not and will not tolerate the sale of vape and vapor products without proper payment of excise taxes, as evidenced by the tax stamps that must be affixed to every vape product sold,” BIR Commissioner Charlito Mendoza said.

The tax agency destroyed yesterday 448,494 illicit vape products worth P1.34 billion to curb the illegal trade of unregistered vape items nationwide.

Mendoza emphasized that illicit vape products could not be taxed and sold.

“The absence of excise tax stamps tells us that these distributors and sellers undermined and evaded government oversight of these sin products, including our authority to monitor, regulate and control their sale and distribution,” he said.

Mendoza said excise taxes on vapes serve several purposes, including curbing consumption by increasing retail prices and discouraging use, especially among young people.

He said taxes on vapes help fund essential public services, particularly health care programs.