2 Panglao Island resorts shut down for tax evasion

Alona Kew White Beach Resort on Alona Beach is one of the two resorts on Panglao Island, Bohol that have been ordered closed by the Bureau of Internal Revenue for failing to pay proper taxes. Photo by Leo Udtohan, Inquirer Visayas

PANGLAO, Bohol — The Bureau of Internal Revenue in Central Visayas (BIR-7) has closed down two resorts on Panglao Island in Bohol province for under-declaring its income.

A team from the BIR-7 went to Alona Kew White Beach Resort on Alona Beach in Barangay Tawala and Bellevue Resort in Barangay Doljo both in Panglao town on Tuesday morning to close these down for tax evasion.

“We are implementing the closure for non-payment of taxes,” said Eduard Pagulayan, BIR-7 director.

He said they discovered that the resorts did not declare its total income to the agency.

He didn’t say how much Alona Kew White Beach Resort and Bellevue Resort owed the government except that the amount was “substantial.”

He said the resorts were given sufficient time to explain their alleged violation.

The BIR sent a five-day VAT and 48-hour notices of violation and notice of compliance but the resorts did not send any reply.

Alona Kew White Beach Resort, a 3-star resort on Alona Beach was owned by Eteria Evelyn Flores.

Aside from the resort, the BIR also closed down Flores’ two other businesses—“Eteria Restaurant” and “EE Rent a Car.”

Bellevue Resort on Panglao Island, Bohol has also been ordered closed by the Bureau of Internal Revenue for tax evasion. photo by Leo Udtohan, Inquirer Visayas

Bellevue, operated by Belle South Pacific Properties, Inc, is an exclusive 5-star on Panglao Island with more than 150 rooms. It is an ASEAN Green Hotel awardee.

Alona Kew White Beach Resort, in a statement, said the management admitted it committed some lapses with their tax compliance.

“This is attributed to the resort’s failure to engage a tax professional to properly guide them in complying with the tax laws and regulations. Resort (Alona Kew White Beach Resort) has paid a substantial amount of its deficiency taxes,” the statement added.

Bellevue Resort manager Rommel Gonzales said they already complied on the same day.

“We paid already so it’s done,” he said.

But Pagulayan had to make sure they would receive the payment within the day since the resorts paid online using the agency’s electronic filing and payment system (eEFPS).

“This serves as a warning to our erring taxpayers. I wish that it didn’t have to reach this far,” he added.

In November 2018, BIR closed down Bohol Henann Resort, Inc. for violating the tax code, including under-declaration of its sales.

But Hennan Resort resumed its operation immediately after the management paid the tax deficiency in two hours./lzb