Textile firm owners face tax evasion raps

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) filed with the justice department Thursday charges of multiple counts of tax evasion against the owners of a Bulacan-based textile company for allegedly failing to file returns and pay income taxes amounting to P1.1 billion from 2004 to 2007.

Charged were the corporate officers of Abante Industries headed by its president Charles Uy and vice president/corporate treasurer Rosita Uy.

Abante, located at 275 Boomtown Industrial Park, Tambubong village, Bocaue, is engaged in the manufacture and sale of knitted fabrics.

Also included in the charge sheet was Nelia Pasco, a certified public accountant for allegedly certifying financial statements containing fraudulent facts covering the four taxable years.

The case against Abante was the 73rd tax evasion charge that the BIR has filed under its Run After Tax Evaders program.

BIR Commissioner Kim Henares said the respondents committed four counts of willful attempt to evade or defeat tax; another four counts of willful failure to supply the correct and accurate information in their annual income tax returns; and 16 counts of willful failure to supply correct and accurate information in their quarterly value-added tax returns.

Using information from the Bureau of Customs, the BIR said it was able to uncover a “substantial underdeclaration of sales” by Abante amounting to P109 million in 2004, P378.8 million in 2005, P576.2 million in 2006, and P61 million in 2007.

The audited financial statements and tax returns that Abante filed with the BIR showed it only declared sales of P58.9 million in 2004; P41.8 million in 2005; P34.9million in 2006; and P46.5 million in 2007, Henares said.

She said that under the tax law, a substantial underdeclaration of more than 30 percent constitutes prima facie evidence of fraud.