BIR files raps vs 2 flower shops on Valentine’s Day

Internal Revenue Commissioner Kim Henares. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—On the day of hearts, the Bureau of Internal Revenue filed cases against two flower shops in Makati City for not issuing duly registered receipts to their customers buying their flowers.

Internal Revenue Commissioner Kim Henares on Thursday said her office has filed complaints at the Department of Justice against Flowers by Sylvia and Casa Flores Inc., for violating section 237 of the Tax Code or not issuing duly registered or sales/commercial invoices.

The BIR filed the complaint against Sylvia Pimentel, owner of Flowers of Sylvia, whose shop is located in San Antonio Village in Makati City.

It said a covert operation was conducted on the flower shop this month where a revenue officer posed as a customer and bought flowers. But upon getting his change, he was not issued a sales invoice or official receipt. He allegedly only got an unregistered provisional receipt, which did not conform to the invoicing requirement provided under the law.

The BIR then issued a mission order that allowed it to conduct a tax compliance verification drive on the flower shop and confiscate its invoice booklets and provisional receipt booklets. These booklets were found not to be duly registered with the BIR.

In a similar case, the BIR filed a complaint against Belen Bactad, Edgar Bactad and Fe Bactad De Leon, president, vice president and treasurer/secretary, respectively, of Casa Flores at A. Arnaiz Avenue, Makati City.

A mission order was also issued that allowed the BIR to conduct a tax compliance verification drive on Casa Flores and the confiscation of their invoice/delivery receipt booklets and cash invoice booklets. These booklets also were found to be not duly registered with the BIR.

The BIR said violators of that provision in the tax code could face imprisonment of two to four years and a fine of at least P1,000.