BIR warns of bogus revenue officers

MANILA, Philippines - The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), the government’s main revenue collection agency, has warned taxpayers and the general public of a new modus operandi of some unscrupulous persons posing as revenue officers from the agency.

In a statement, the BIR said the Office of the Deputy Commissioner for Operations Group has received reports some revenue officers are threatening legitimate business establishments that they would be subjected to surveillance if they do not pay these “agents.”

One of the reports from a taxpayer included a document that requested the taxpayer to allow “revenue officials to monitor his business for 15 days.”

“Upon verification by the taxpayer, the document turned out to be bogus. The alleged signatory said he never issued the document,” the BIR said.

The BIR said the “revenue officers” turned out to be impostors who showed fake BIR identification cards.

Thus, BIR deputy commissioner Nelson Aspe has asked taxpayers to be vigilant and report such incidents to the agency.

He also said the taxpayer must ask for the presentation of identification cards, photocopy documents presented, and take pictures of the persons involved.

“When certain that the whole thing is a scam, call for assistance from concerned Barangay officials. In this instance, a “citizen’s arrest” can be made for the offense of “usurpation of official functions” which is punishable under the Revised Penal Code of the Philippines,” Aspe said.