BIR shuts 9 Tondo shops over P25M unpaid taxes

THE BUREAU of Internal Revenue (BIR) on Thursday closed down nine shops in Tondo, Manila, due to unpaid taxes totaling about P25 million.

In a statement, the BIR identified the nine establishments, all located along Santo Cristo Street, as ADD 1 Enterprise, BS Exponent Ville Marketing, Evertrix Enterprises, JPC Candy Shoppe Inc., Lorex Bazar Company, MKY General Merchandise, WBT Pharmacy & General Merchandise, YUSUN Inc., and ZYX Enterprises.

These establishments substantially underdeclared their correct taxable sales or receipts, in violation of the Tax Code or the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997 as amended, the BIR said.

They also failed to comply with the requirements specified in the 48-hour notice and the five-day value added tax (VAT) compliance notice, including their failure to settle their VAT liabilities, the bureau added.

BIR Deputy Commissioner Nelson Aspe issued the closure orders for the nine establishments, pursuant to Section 115 of the Tax Code.

The BIR padlocks tax-deficient establishments under its Oplan Kandado program.

The Oplan Kandado and Run Against Tax Evaders (Rate) programs were consistently among the top priority programs of the country’s biggest tax-collection agency, as these have made a “significant impact on the attainment of the revenue goal,” according to BIR Commissioner Kim Henares. The Rate program brings alleged tax evaders to court.

As of end-July, BIR’s collections grew 8 percent year-on-year to P824.1 billion, although 14-percent lower than the P958.4-billion goal.

The BIR targets to collect P1.674 trillion in taxes by yearend. Ben O. de Vera