Flower shop owner cries foul

MANILA, Philippines - A flower shop owner charged with tax evasion by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) yesterday cried foul as she denied claims that her store is not duly registered with the tax agency.

Sylvia Pimentel, proprietor of Flowers by Sylvia, said all her four stores are registered with the BIR. She said the registration of two of her shops had already been renewed, while the two others in Makati City were due for renewal pending the release of business permits, a requirement for BIR registration. She said she filed the application for business permits on Feb. 8.

Pimentel also sought to clarify reports that came out in the Feb. 15 issue of The STAR, where the BIR said her shop did not issue duly registered receipts or invoices.  

She clarified the 36-year-old Flowers by Sylvia was compelled to use provisional receipts because the BIR released the duly registered receipts only on Feb. 14.