BIR files three tax cases worth P108 million

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) on Thursday filed three separate cases before the Department of Justice (DOJ) against a rice importer, a lawyer of state-owned Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System and a doctor couple. The cases were worth a combined P108.1 million, the bureau said in a statement, citing Commissioner Kim Henares. The bureau filed a P102.9 million case against Nilo Alegado, a Cebu-based rice importer who rents out real properties and runs a rice dealership business in the province. Citing National Food Authority (NFA) documents, the BIR said Alegado imported P183 million worth of rice in 2009 but declared only P3.4 million in total purchases. The BIR also charged Danilo Cariaga for allegedly not paying the proper amount of taxes. Henares said the BIR paid Cariaga P2.4 million in 2007 for his services as a consultant and lawyer but declared an income of only P220,456.22. The BIR computed Cariaga’s total tax liability at P1.95 million. The lawyer is also being charged with violation of Sections 254 and 255 of the Tax Code. The third case was filed against a husband and wife team of Dr. SW Tenglee Tengsico Tan — who specializes in alternative medicine — and Dr. Marcelle Marie Palanca Tan-Chen, a pediatrician. The two operate several medical clinics, including one at the Medical Plaza building in Makati City. They “… violated sections 236, 258 and 264 of the Tax Code from July to August 2011 for acquiring multiple tax identification numbers, unlawful pursuit of business and failure to issue receipts," Henares said. Henares reminded the public including self-employed professionals — as doctors and lawyers — that they are obliged under existing laws to issue receipts. — VS, GMA News