BIR files tax evasion rap vs former LTO chief Suansing

Bureau of Internal Revenue building. AFP FILE PHOTO

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) on Wednesday filed a tax evasion complaint against former Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief Alberto H. Suansing, now president of North Star Port Development Corporation (North Star).

Also included in the complaint is North Star Treasurer Rosauro Aguinaldo. North Star is engaged in providing arrastre, stevedoring, and other cargo handling services.

They are facing a complaint for violation of Sections 255 in relation to Sections 253 and 256 of the National Internal Revenue Code (NIRC) for willful failure to pay taxes.

Its tax deficiency is P29.83 million, inclusive of surcharges and interests for taxable year 2008.

BIR Manila records showed that the company was served with Letter of Authority (LOA), Preliminary Assessment Notice (PAN), Final Assessment Notice (FAN), and corresponding formal letter of demand (FLD) with details of discrepancies, but the cargo handling firm failed to file its protest, making the assessment final and demandable.

Despite issuance of a final notice, the tax assessment remained unpaid. Then, a warrant of distraint and/or levy and warrant of garnishment was issued to seize properties and bank accounts of North Star to satisfy the tax liability. However, there were no accounts or properties available.

“The respondent’s obstinate failure and continued refusal to pay its long overdue deficiency tax assessments, despite repeated demands, constitute willful failure to pay the taxes due to the government,” the BIR said. JE