BIR files case vs Ever Bilena over P1.6 billion tax liability

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has filed criminal charges against popular cosmetics brand Ever Bilena for allegedly failing to settle at least P1.6 billion in tax liability.

The complaint was filed against Ever Bilena before the Department of Justice on Feb. 1, according to BIR Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr.

Lumagui said the agency’s Run After Fake Transactions (RAFT) Task Force discovered that the cosmetics firm had been using receipts from several ghost companies.

“The RAFT Task Force will run after the big fish – big companies using illegal schemes in evading taxes. Ever Bilena has P1.6 billion in total tax liability,” he said.

“This year, we will continue to file criminal cases against tax evaders,” Lumagui added.

The BIR said Ever Bilena, through its corporate officers and certified public accountants, is facing complaints for tax evasion, failure to supply correct and accurate information in the Income Tax Return and Value-Added Tax Returns, perjury and making falsified records or report under the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997.

Lumagui launched the RAFT program in 2023 against businesses using ghost receipts to evade tax payment.