Trading company charged with tax evasion

MANILA, Philippines - The Bureau of Internal Revenue filed on Thursday a criminal complaint against a trading company for tax evasion.

Jera Marketing, Inc. (JMI) and its President Ester Almendrala were charged before the Department of Justice for violating the National Revenue Code of 1997 as defined and penalized under Section 255 and in relation to Section 253.

JMI is a local corporation involved in trading goods. It is registered with the BIR and is based in San Pedro, Laguna.

The state agency said the firm failed to submit its books of accounts and other accounting records for all internal revenue taxes covering taxable year 2006. JMI was earlier issued a letter of authority for BIR to examine its documents. A subpoena duces tecum, a preliminary collection letter, a final notice before seizure and a warrant of distraint and/or levy were also issued to the company to settle its tax obligations.

"However, despite such repeated demands and the lapse of a considerable length of time, JMI has obstinately failed and adamantly refused to pay, through its responsible corporate officer, the aforementioned deficiency taxes, to the prejudice of government," BIR said.

The criminal case filed against JMI is the 152nd filed under the bureau's Run After Tax Evaders program.