BIR raids cigarette warehouses

3 weeks ago

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THE BUREAU of Internal Revenue (BIR) said on Monday that it had raided three cigarette warehouses in Cavite that operated illegally and evaded P5.4 billion in taxes.

In a statement the BIR said the raid last March 21 led to the confiscation of “master cases of cigarettes, machines, sacks of raw tobacco, and fake internal revenue stamps” and the filing of criminal and civil cases against the operators.

“The BIR will continue targeting these large-scale illicit cigarette traders. We advise everyone to register their cigarette operations with the BIR and to pay proper excise taxes on those products,” BIR Commissioner Romeo D. Lumagui, Jr. said.

“The BIR aims to protect legitimate businesses so if you register and pay your proper taxes, your businesses will be compliant. We want a level playing field, so we protect registered businesses and raid illicit trade,” he added. — Luisa Maria Jacinta C. Jocson