BIR files 116 tax evasion cases

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has completed its target to file 116 cases under its Run After Tax Evaders (RATE) program after filing four cases last week, a ranking official said yesterday.

Despite meeting the target, BIR Deputy Commissioner for Legal and Inspection Group Gregorio Cabantac said the agency would continue to implement the program.

The implementation of the program is part of the government’s agreement with the United States’ Millennium Challenge Corp. (MCC), under which the Philippines gets funding for anti-corruption and anti-poverty efforts.

At present, the Philippines is a threshold country under the MCC program of the US. But the MCC board said the Philippines can now apply for a compact status by presenting a five-year program that would sustain its fight against corruption and its fight against poverty.

The MCC board has said that countries selected as eligible for a large-scale grant or compact have the opportunity to submit a proposal for five-year program to reduce poverty through sustainable economic growth.

The amount of grant the Philippines may get may range anywhere between $65 million and $698 million, depending on the program that would be submitted by the government.

Cabantac is optimistic that as far as the BIR is concerned, the Philippines would be elevated to a compact status

He said the agency intends to seek P20 million worth of MCC funds for the RATE program when the country is elevated to a compact status.

The BIR, under the RATE program which was launched in 2005, is mandated to investigate criminal violations of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997.

The agency is also mandated to assist in the prosecution of criminal cases with the aim of deterring similar activities, enhance voluntary compliance and promote public confidence in the tax system.