BIR provides Senate with 23 tax records
As part of COVID budget probe
LAST December 1, 2021 the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) provided the Senate, thru the Senate President, for its consideration in Executive Session, with a total of 23 tax records it subpoenaed to complete its investigation involving the “2020 COA Report and Other Issues Related to Budget Utilization of the Department of Health (DOH), especially its Expenditures Related to the Fight Against COVID”.
“As long as it is within our powers and jurisdiction as mandated under the Tax Code, we, at the BIR, will cooperate with the Senate in its investigation about the alleged anomalous government procurement deals for the country’s COVID-19 response,” Commissioner Caesar R. Dulay said.
Earlier, the Commissioner ordered the Bureau’s Investigation and Prosecution Teams, consisting of the Regional Directors, Revenue District Officers, Regional Investigation Divisions/National Investigation Division, Legal Divisions and Prosecution Division, to check and verify the tax compliance of seventy-six taxpayers mentioned in the said COA Report and other related issues. Said Teams have been closely monitored and assisted, for proper coordination, by a newly created Taskforce, headed by Deputy Commissioners Marissa Cabreros and Arnel SD. Guballa.
“Just like any other taxpayer who had been subject of our tax audit, we will thoroughly check and verify the tax compliance of these 76 taxpayers and be filing appropriate criminal complaints as warranted against those found to have violated the Tax Code,” the Commissioner said. The submission is consistent with the order of the Senate President to submit the documents for their consideration in Executive Session.
As of this date, the BIR has issued a total of 115 Letters of Authority (LOAs) to conduct tax audit against the said 76 taxpayers.
