DoF shuts 11 POGO branches

The closure of the branches of NOCC, which is registered in Makati City, is part of the Department of Finance’s crackdown on tax-dodging POGO that employ foreigners. #taxdodgers #pogo

BIR Deputy Commissioner Arnel Guballa (right) puts a closure notice in one of the POGO branches of NOCC Wednesday. (DoF)

Agents of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) raided and shut down 11 branches of a Chinese-run Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) in Paranaque City on Wednesday.

BIR Deputy Commissioner Arnel Guballa led the padlocking of the unregistered branches of New Oriental Club88 Corporation (NOCC) located in different buildings along Macapagal Boulevard in the city.

Guballa said the company has to settle unpaid taxes, including income tax from at least 6,700 Chinese workers, before it can reopen and resume operations.

The closure of the branches of NOCC, which is registered in Makati City, is part of the Department of Finance’s crackdown on tax-dodging POGO that employ foreigners.

Earlier, three POGO firms were closed for tax evasion. One of the online gaming firms partially paid P1.2 billion of its tax obligation, according to DoF.

According to the BIR, it has so far collected P1.63 billion in withholding taxes from POGOs and their service providers covering the period from January to August this year.

These online gaming firms paid P175 million in withholding taxes in 2017 and P579 million in 2018.