BIR files tax raps vs BuCor caterer

MANILA, Philippines—The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) on Thursday filed with the Department of Justice (DOJ) tax evasion case against a caterer of the Bureau of Correction for tax liability worth P215.07-million.

Facing a complaint for willful attempt to evade or defeat payment of income and value added tax for taxable year 2010 and 2011, for deliberate failure to supply correct and accurate information in his Income Tax Return (ITR) for 2010 and Quarterly VAT for 2010 and 2011 and for deliberate failure to file his ITR in 2011 is Ziegfried Loo Tian, sole proprietor of Golden Taste Food Services and General Merchandising (Golden Taste).

Complaint against Tian stemmed from a confidential information sent to the BIR alleging tax evasion.

Records showed that Tan was contracted by BuCor to render catering services from Aug. 17, 2010 to Jan. 16, 2012 for inmates at the Correctional Institution for Woman in Mandaluyong and Davao, Reception and Diagnostic Center in Muntinlupa, Juvenile and Training Center and the Medium and Minimum Security Compounds of the National Bilibid Prisons.

Based on certification issued by BuCor, Tian received a total payment of P83.23 million in 2010 and P185.48 in 2011 for its services rendered.

BIR Chief Kim Jacinto-Henares said Tian filed his ITR for taxable year 2010 but failed to file in 2011. His 2010 ITR showed no amount or figure for purposes of filing a valid return except the words “Please see attached.” But no financial statements and other pertinent papers were attached to the said return.

At the same time, Tian filed his VAT returns for taxable year 2010 and 2011. But an examination of the return showed that no figure was shown except the word “exempt.”