The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) is eyeing the closure of three major businesses in Palawan for failure to comply with its tax policies.
Revenue district officer Lorenzo delos Santos did not disclose the names of the businesses and the details regarding their violations but said that one is in Puerto Princesa City and the two is located in different municipalities.
The establishments compose a group of seven erring businesses, Delos Santos said, but the four others have already acted in accordance with the BIR’s requirements.
He said that they are now developing the cases against the business establishments and has, in fact, sent their documents to the BIR regional office.
However, the regional office returned their documents because of an additional requirement they need to complete this month.
“Sa ngayon we are developing na ang mga cases… may mga dini-develop kami na cases. Nag-submit na ako sa regional office, ibinalik nga lang nila dahil may isang requirement lang na pinapagawa sa amin. If we can do the requirement by this month, baka magkaroon ng epekto ‘yan ngayong July magkakaroon kami ng action,” Delos Santos said.
He also said that there are tourism businesses that allegedly do not report their true income to the BIR.
Delos Santos said that they hope that shutting down at least one major establishment through a closure order will teach businesses in the city and province a lesson.
“Sa Puerto Princesa kasi is more on tourism ito, at saka maraming negosyo dito, ‘yong mga major business dito, at least may one akong masampulan. Ngayon dito sa tourism, ‘yan ang gusto ko masampulan dyan dahil napakalaki ng income ng mga engaged dyan na napakahirap mag-report ng tama,” he stressed.
Delos Santos said that there are also investigating some registered businesses in the tourism sector that have connections with travel agencies outside Palawan because they allegedly do not issue receipts to their clients.
“Although there is a presumption of fraud, dapat meron tayong basis kung saan makukuha ‘yong 30%. Ayaw din namin ‘yong karakaraka, papasok kami sa ganyan baka mate-technical naman kami nyan at saka napakahirap gawin ‘yan sa isang taxpayer. So you need to be cautious sa mga ganyan at dapat armed ka with legal facts,” he pointed out.
