THE Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has filed cases against companies that are allegedly involved in buying and selling fake or ghost receipts. 

Likewise BIR Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr. said that there is a need to have confidential funds so they can go after tax evaders. 

According to the BIR, they had requested P10 million in confidential funds for 2024.

This will be used for further surveillance and investigation on tax evaders and illicit traders.

“Itong fake transactions or ghost receipts, makikita niyo ang tagal-tagal na nito. Decades na ang tinakbo ng kalakarang ito at ngayon lang nahuli. Marami ang kinakailangang surveillance dito, imbestigasyon,” he said Lumagui. 

“Hindi lang naman sa ghost receipts ginagamit yan. Nag-iimbestiga rin tayo sa mabigat na mga sindikatong involved sa illicit trade— andyan ang sa mga sigarilyo, illicit na vape products, kung saan-saan yan. Sindikato talaga ang involved dito at kung hindi natin bubuwagin ang mga sindikatong involved, ay talagang patuloy ang pagbagsak ng koleksyon dito sa excise tax,” he added. 

Meanwhile, Lumagui, who personally trooped to the Department of Justice, filed criminal cases against 69 corporations, corporate offices, and accountants.

The said cases were involved in the buying and selling of fake or ghost receipts.

He said that an estimated P1.8 billion in total tax liabilities have been linked to the identified alleged erring taxpayers.

“Rehistrado ang mga korporasyon na ito sa SEC, rehistrado din sa amin sa BIR. They’re going through the process ng registration at kumukuha ng resibo. Pero again, walang produktong binebenta ito, walang serbisyong binebenta. Ang talagang binebenta lang nila ay mga resibong ito,” explained Lumagui.