The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) on Thursday filed a criminal complaint against the owner of a software management company and her partner, a BIR employee for manipulating point-of-sale machines to evade taxes.
BIR Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr. led the filing of the raps before the Department of Justice (DOJ) in Manila against Base V Software Management and Consultation Company owner Chiradee Base and her partner Aldwin Base.
In an interview with the media, Lumagui said Chiardee and Aldiwn allegedly manipulated point-of-sale machines in a bid to reduce actual sales and evade payment of taxes.
Point-of-sale machines used by business establishments are registered at the BIR, he explained.
The BIR Commissioner said the government lost an estimated ₱6.4 billion in revenue due to the manipulation of at least four point-of-sales machines.
WATCH: BIR Commissioner Romeo Lumagui, Jr. personal na nagsampa ng kaso sa DOJ laban sa isang negosyante at asawa nito na empleyado ng BIR dahil sa hindi pagbabayad ng buwis | RH29 @boy_gonzales, DZRH News pic.twitter.com/ayAS50yQQw
— DZRH NEWS (@dzrhnews) May 11, 2023
"Seryoso tayo na linisin ang ating hanay, kaya lahat ng kasabwat na nakita namin dito sa loob ng ahensya namin, ang empleyado ng BIR, ay kasama sa kaso," he said told reporters.
Lumagui said he already sign a dismissal order to remove the BIR employee from his post.
The agency also filed criminal raps against Jelsin Vargas, who allegedly conspired with the couple to tamper point-of-sales machines.
Lumagui appealed to businessmen to stop engaging in such fraudulent activities.
"Meron kaming mekanismo na kaya namin malaman iyan. Uuumpisahan na rin namin ang kampanya laban dito kaya huwag na kayong gumamit at bumili ng mga ganitong software na nadaraya ng inyong benta," he said.
The BIR Chief also gave a stern warning against BIR employees, saying that he will run after them and remove them from their posts if they will be involved in this kind of tax evasion.
"Nakakalungkot iyan na tayo pa mismo ang tumutulong sa tax payers na mag-evade, when it fact tayo dapat ang nangongolekta at magsabi sa ating tax payers na magbayad ng tamang buwis," Lumagui pointed out.
