BIR files tax raps vs trader, CPA

Bureau of Internal Revenue Commissioner Kim Jacinto-Henares. FILE PHOTO

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) on Thursday filed a tax evasion case in the Department of Justice against a businessman and his accountant for allegedly defrauding the government of close to P47 million in income taxes in 2010 and 2011.

Charged for violation of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997 were Alvin Esguerra, owner of Fruiveg Marketing and a resident of Angeles City, Pampanga, and his accountant, Celia Mirasol-Gueco.

Internal Revenue Commissioner Kim Henares said the case against the pair was a result of the tax agency’s audit investigation on Puregold Price Club Inc., which reported that it paid Fruiveg almost P162 million for the fruits and vegetables it supplied to Puregold’s six branches.

“This is the beauty of third-party tax report and the computerization of our records in the BIR,” Henares said in a news briefing.

Records provided by Puregold to the BIR showed that Fruiveg received P64.88 million in 2010 and P96.84 million the following year.

However, Henares said Esguerra reported sales of only P812,458.50 in 2010 and P75.56 million in 2011 in his income tax returns.

For purportedly underdeclaring his sales, Henares said Esguerra must pay the government P36.11 million for 2010 and P10.49 million for 2011, including surcharges and interests.

If found guilty, the BIR chief said Esguerra and Gueco may pay the penalty of at least P30,000 and face a prison term of two to four years.