The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has filed 75 criminal cases against various entities involved in the illegal vape trade and with a collective ₱711.3 million in tax liability.
The BIR National and Regional Offices across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao simultaneously filed charges before the Department of Justice (DOJ), as part of its fierce crackdown against tax evasion, said BIR Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr.
Through raids and inspections carried out all over the country, the BIR found the sale of vape products without appropriate internal revenue stamps or BIR registrations a rampant and persistent issue, reported RH 29 Boy Gonzales.
Additionally, a large volume of the illegal products was recovered.
Among the cases filed are Tax Evasion, Unlawful Possession or Removal of Articles Subject to Excise Tax Without Payment of the Tax, and Failure to File Excise Tax Returns.
This move follows earlier cases filed against major players in the illegal vape trade. In February 2024, a warrant of arrest was issued against the company Tap Fog and its associates over its staggering ₱1.2 billion tax liability.
In April of this year, the BIR filed a ₱8.7 billion tax evasion case against large vape businesses like Flava, Denkat, and Flare.
