Philippine Canine Club faces P68-M tax evasion case

MANILA, Philippines – The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) on Thursday, June 19, filed a complaint against the Philippine Canine Club Inc. (PCCI), the country’s premier body for registration of pedigree dogs, for allegedly evading P68 million worth of taxes.

Charged for willful attempt to evade the payment of value-added tax (VAT) and failure to file VAT returns from 2006 to 2011 were PCCI and its former officers – Augusto Benedicto Santos III, Ronnie Natividad, Bernardito Jalandoni Repaldor, Danny Ramillano, Johny Filart and Emmanuel Santos.

The case against PCCI stemmed from a letter from a complainant-informant alleging that PCCI has not been paying the required VAT since 2004.

An investigation conducted by the BIR’s Revenue Region No. 7 in Quezon City showed that PCCI declared gross sales of P34.24 million, P31.73 million, P32.92 million, P42.54 million, P37.69 million, and P42.66 million for taxable years 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011, respectively.

However, the company did not file its VAT returns and pay its VAT liabilities for said years. “Since PCCI is engaged in the sale of services in the course of a business pursuit, it is liable to pay VAT,” said the BIR.

The bureau said PCCI owed the government P68 million, inclusive of interest.

The case against the company was the 256th filed under the Run After Tax Evaders or RATE program of the BIR under the leadership of Commissioner Kim Jacinto-Henares. – Rappler.com