P53M tax evasion suit filed vs Baler resort firm execs, including Angara sister
MANILA — The Bureau of Internal Revenue filed, on Thursday, at the Department of Justice a P53-million tax evasion suit against a sister of Sen. Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara and other officials of a resort developer and operator in Baler, Aurora.
BIR Commissioner Kim Jacinto-Henares led the filing of the cases against the Sea and Sierra Vista Inc. (Sasvi), its president Pia Bustamante, treasurer Alexandra Leia Angara, and finance officer Lailanie Hernandez for non-payment of taxes in 2013 and 2014.
Sasvi is a registered corporation engaged in the business of planning, developing, constructing, owning and operating sports, vacation, recreation, resort facilities and other indoor and outdoor-related sports and recreational facilities.
Henares said BIR records have shown Sasvi has been operating the Bahia de Baler Garden Resort, Bahia de Baler Business Center, Bahia de Baler Bar and Grill, Costa Pacifica and Beach House, all located in Barangay Sabang, Baler, a popular tourist destination, especially for surfing enthusiasts.
The commissioner said that as a result of BIR’s tax compliance verification drive, Sasvi was found using unregistered point-of-sales machines and computerized accounting system/books of accounts.
“Without any manual books of accounts to show, Sasvi provided BIR with certified print outs from their computerized accounting system for 2013 and 2014,” Henares said.
She said BIR investigators further discovered that Sasvi failed to file its monthly valued-added tax returns for six months in 2013 and for the entire 2014. The company also allegedly failed to file its 4th quarter VAT returns for 2013 and all quarterly VAT returns for 2014.
The company also failed to file its quarterly income tax returns for 2013 and 2014, Henares said.
“An analysis of the duly certified computerized accounting records sourced from Sasvi showed that it derived gross revenues amounting to P21.04 million in 2013 and P175.01 million in 2014. However, a comparison of said date with Sasvi’s declaration in its ITR for 2014 disclosed a discrepancy of P21.20 million,” the commissioner said.
Sasvi and its corporate officers were assessed an estimate aggregate deficiency tax liability amounting to P53.28 million, inclusive of surcharges and interests, broken down into P11.93 million VAT for 2013, and P3.02 million income tax and 338.33 million VAT for 2014.
The respondents were charged with willful attempt to evade or defeat tax, deliberate failure to supply correct and accurate information in their ITR VAT returns, in violation of Sections 254 and 255 in relation to Sections 253 (d) and 256 of National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended. SFM
