The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) shut two business establishments in Lagawe, Ifugao with their intensified enforcement program.

The business operations of ABS Enterprises owned by Ajet B. Singh and RGH Motors and Auto Supply owned by Hercules B. Galap were closed down on the basis of a closure order issued by Arnel SD. Guballa, Deputy Commissioner for Operations, for violation of internal revenue laws, rules and regulations.

Present during the operation were Revenue District Officer Arlan Davis, Regional Investigation Division Representatives Marian Bilayon-Esparagoza and Joseph Hipona and other revenue officers of Lagawe, Ifugao.

Based on the result of a 13-day surveillance conducted against Galap by a team composed of RDO Arlan Davis and revenue officers from RDO 12, Lagawe, Ifugao from 15 to 29 July, the average daily sales excluding value added tax of the taxpayer amounts to P8,913.51, thus the computed average quarterly sales of P695,253.75 or an average annual sales of P2,781,015. Compared to the taxpayer’s filed sales return of P1,320,233.81 for 2018, the taxpayer had under declaration of P1,460,781.19 or 53 percent, which is a clear violation of Section 115 of the Tax Code.

On the other hand, Ajet Singh, a VAT registered taxpayer, through a 15-day sales monitoring activity from 24 June to 18 July, was found to have under-declared P24,925,908.50 in sales or 63 percent and P5,850,314.30 or 59 percent of the extrapolated sales for taxable year 2018 and first quarter of taxable year 2019, respectively.

OIC-Regional Director Douglas Rufino said due process was given to the taxpayer thru the issuance of 48-hour notice to explain violations, and five-day VAT compliance notice to rectify the tax payments, but the taxpayers failed to comply.