Pagcor coffee concessionaire faces tax raps

MANILA, Philippines—The Department of Justice has recommended the filing of a P59-million tax-evasion case against the supplier of coffee to Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) casinos during the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Carlota Cristi M. Tan, who throughout the Arroyo administration reportedly sold P700 million worth of coffee in Pagcor casinos, allegedly underdeclared her income for the years 2003 and 2004 and will be charged with evading taxes in the Court of Tax Appeals, the DOJ said on Tuesday.

The DOJ task force assigned to Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) cases found probable cause to charge Tan with two counts of violating Section 254 in relation to Sections 51 and 74 (attempting to evade or defeat taxes) and two counts of violating Section 255 of the National Internal Revenue Code (failure to supply correct and accurate information) for taxable years 2003 and 2004.

Tan owned Promolabels specialty shop, which operated Figaro coffee shops in Pagcor casinos.

The BIR said Tan underdeclared the income from her coffee concession for 2003 and 2004 and owed the government P59,000,781.32 in income taxes, inclusive of a 50-percent surcharge and interest up to 2011.