Talk n Text’s Alapag, Dillinger face tax evasion raps

MANILA, Philippines - The Bureau of Internal Revenue on Thursday filed before the Department of Justice tax evasion charges against Jimmy Alapag and Jared Dillinger of the Talk n Text Tropang Texters in the Philippine Basketball Association.

Investigation showed that Alapag earned close to P4 million from PLDT, which owns the Talk n Text PBA franchise, in 2007.

The fiery point guard’s earnings from Smart amounted to P8.77 million in 2012 and the BIR placed his total income as a professional basketball player at P32.28 million.

According to the BIR, Alapag failed to file his income tax returns for taxable years 2007 to 2010 and he also failed to file his value added tax returns from 2007 to 2012.

The BIR computed Alapag's tax deficiency at P17.86 million for the same taxable period, inclusive of surcharges and interests.

Dillinger, for his part, earned P694,000 from PLDT in 2008.

His earnings from Smart amounted to P6.48 million in 2012, and the BIR's investigation showed his income as a basketball player has totaled P22.19 million.

Dillinger did not file his ITRs from 2008 to 2011 and he also did not file his percentage tax return for 2008.

The BIR said he also failed to file his VAT returns from 2009 to 2012.

It computed Dillinger's tax deficiency at P13.37 million, inclusive of surcharges and interests.

Both Alapag and Dillinger are vital cogs of TnT and are believed to be receiving a salary of P350,000 a month – the maximum allowed by the PBA. 

The two Texters are also likely candidates for the Smart Gilas national basketball team that will compete in the FIBA Asia Championship in Manila this August. – With report from PNA