Manila – In a crackdown on tax evasion, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) filed criminal charges against 69 companies and individuals involved in a PHP1.8 billion "ghost receipts" scam. The complaints were filed on Wednesday, marking a significant move against illicit financial practices.
According to Philippines News Agency, who personally filed the complaints, the charges pertain to the illegal trade of ghost receipts by companies through unscrupulous accountants and lawyers. Lumagui condemned the practice as a major tax-evasion scheme and reaffirmed the BIR's commitment to pursuing both civil and criminal charges against all parties involved in the syndicate. He also urged lawyers and accountants to advise their clients against the use of unauthorized receipts. This action represents the second time this year that the BIR has filed criminal cases related to ghost receipts. The implicated parties span various industries, including construction, marketing, automotive, and hotel services. Additionally, the Supreme Court issued a statement clarifying the jurisdiction over tax cases following the effectivity of Republic Act no. 11576. The Act outlines the jurisdictional thresholds for tax collection and criminal offenses related to tax matters, dividing responsibilities between the Court of Tax Appeals, first-level courts, and Regional Trial Courts based on the amount involved in the cases.