The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) filed criminal cases before the Department of Justice (DOJ) yesterday versus buyers or clients of the ghost receipts syndicate, with tax liabilities amounting to P17.9 billion.
In a statement, the BIR, without disclosing actual names, said that the case filed targeted corporate officers, accounting firms and accountants of companies that are buyers of ghost receipts.
The tax agency said that the syndicate registers ghost companies whose sole business purpose is to sell original receipts so their buyers could illegally reduce their tax liabilities.
An estimate of P17.9 billion in total tax liability has been computed by the BIR against these erring taxpayers for their use of ghost receipts issued by the syndicate.
“This is tax evasion of the highest order, and perhaps the most elaborate tax evasion scheme in the history of Philippine taxation. We will regularly file criminal cases against buyers of fake/ghost receipts”, BIR commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr. said.
Last March, the BIR also filed criminal cases against the ghost receipt sellers and their certified public accountant (CPA).
The BIR chief also created the BIR National Task Force – Run After Fake Transactions for the purpose of auditing the buyers of said receipts last April 2023.
“The BIR National Task Force – Run After Fake Transactions will pursue the buyers of fake/ghost receipts. BIR is the sole authority that can audit the buyers of ghost receipts. Coordinate with the task force. Submit documents. Attend the meetings. This is merely the first set of criminal cases against the buyers,” Lumagui said.
According to the BIR, this is the first time in its history where the issue of ghost receipts is being addressed despite being in operation for about more than 15 years.
The tax agency said that everyone involved in this syndicate will suffer the full force of the BIR.
