BIR wins P5.7-B tax evasion case

THE Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) won a P5.7-billion tax evasion case against a Chinese-run illicit cigarette business.

In a statement on Tuesday, BIR Commissioner Romeo D. Lumagui, Jr. said the tax evasion case against five Chinese nationals linked to the cigarette operations emerged after its largest raid against illicit cigarettes in 2024.

The Department of Justice (DoJ) ruled in favor of the BIR after the case was filed by the BIR on Feb. 7. The DoJ then forwarded the complaint to the Court of Tax Appeals on March 13.

“The case filed by the BIR with the DoJ came after a multi-city raid executed by the BIR and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group on Nov. 6 and 7 in Valenzuela and Bulacan,” the BIR said.

The BIR said the total tax liability in the case amounted to P5.76 billion after 21,000 master cases of illicit cigarettes were seized during the operation. — Aubrey Rose A. Inosante