BIR files tax evasion charges vs lawyer, rice importer, 2 doctors

MANILA, Philippines - The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) filed three different cases at the Department of Justice (DOJ) yesterday against a rice importer, a lawyer of state-owned Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System and a husband and wife medical team.

The three cases are worth a total of P108.1 million, according to BIR Commissioner Kim Henares who led yesterday’s filing.

Of the P108 million, the BIR filed a P102.9 million case against Nilo Alegado, a Cebu-based rice importer who rents out real properties and has a rice dealership business in the province.

Citing documents from the National Food Authority (NFA), the BIR said Alegado imported P183 million worth of rice in 2009 but declared only P3.4 million in total purchases.

Similarly, the BIR charged Danilo Cariaga for allegedly not paying the proper taxes.

Henares said the BIR paid Cariaga a total of P2.4 million in 2007 for his services as a consultant and lawyer but he declared an income of only P220,456.22. The BIR computed Cariaga’s total tax liability at P1.95 million and he is also being charged with violation of Sections 254 and 255 of the tax code.

The third case was filed against a husband and wife team of doctors. The BIR filed a case against Dr. SW Tenglee Tengsico Taan, a doctor specializing in alternative medicine and Marcelle Marie Palanca Tan-Chen, a pediatrician.

The two operate several medical clinics, including one in the Medical Plaza building in Makati City.

“Drs. Tan-Chen violated sections 236, 258 and 264 of the Tax Code from July to August 2011 for acquiring multiple tax identification numbers, unlawful pursuit of business and failure to issue receipts,” Henares said.

Henares reminded the public, including self-employed professionals such as doctors and lawyers, that they are obliged under existing laws to issue receipts.

The BIR is tasked to collect P940 billion this year and it believes that the filing of tax evasion charges would send a strong signal to delinquent taxpayers that the agency is serious in its fight against tax evaders.