Traders face P60-M tax evasion charges

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has filed tax evasion charges amounting to almost P60 million against three Kapampangan businessmen under the agency’s Run After Tax Evaders (Rate) program.

Respondents named under the 125, 126 and 127 list of Rate charges include Dr. Noel Lacsamana, proprietor of Lacsamana Eye Clinic, IEC Eye Center and IECON Pharma & Medical Services; Yolanda Macabulos, sole proprietress of Luring's Barbecue Franchise; and Maila Laxamana, who owns the Fracojan Catering Services.

Lacsamana, Macabulos and Laxamana were charged with a P59.9-million tax evasion case before the Department of Justice late last week.

The BIR said Lacsamana failed to pay P7.08 million in taxes through “evasion and misdeclaring entries in his income tax returns from 2007 to 2011.” Lacsamana is liable under sections 254 and 255 of the National Internal Revenue Code.

Records from the BIR-South Pampanga and Sta. Maria, Bulacan, and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) showed that Lacsamana deliberately concealed his real income in taxable years 2007 and 2008.

During the two-year period, he only paid P1,604 in income tax despite earning at least P2.63 million from his medical practice and other businesses at the time.

The BIR also filed tax evasion charges against Macabulos and Laxamana, concessionaires of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) in Angeles City.

Macabulos's tax liabilities from 2009 to 2011 amounted to P45.31 million, broken down into P32.17 million deficiency income tax and P13.14 million in deficiency value added tax (VAT).

Macabulos also failed to file VAT returns in some quarters of 2009 and for 2010 and 2011.

Pagcor certified that it paid Macabulos a total of P56.88 million from 2009 to 2011 but she only declared sales of P16.41 million, resulting in a substantial underdeclaration.

Laxamana is also being sued for violation of sections 254 and 255 of the NIRC.

Based on Pagcor's certifications, it paid Laxamana a total of P15.65 million for 2010 and 2011 but she declared an income of only P7.53 million in 2011 and did not file a return for 2010.

For 2010, Laxamana's sales reached P4.08 million and should have registered as a VAT taxpayer as her sales were already above the P1.5-million requirement.

Her dues can be broken down into P6.84 million in deficiency income tax and P2.61 million in deficiency VAT. (With Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)