Flower shops in latest BIR shame campaign ad

MANILA, Philippines – Saying that it would be May soon – the month of flowers in the country – the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has trained its guns on flower shops this time, sourced from a top 10 list of an urban lifestyle website.

The latest BIR Tax Watch ad released on Wednesday, April 23, focuses on a list of 10 flower shops featured by SPOT.PH. 

The BIR said that based on its preliminary findings, of the 10 flower shops, only half declared their income tax dues in 2012, and among those that didn’t, Specialty Florists and Fruits in Bloom allegedly have no Tax Identification Number (TIN).

Blue Barn, Flowers by Sylvia, and Designer Blooms reportedly did not file income tax returns (ITRs) in 2012.

The ones that filed ITRs in 2012 are Spruce Floral Designs, with an income tax due of P6,993 in 2012; Teddy Manuel, P1,463; L. Carlos Florists Incorporated, P117,538.58; Tecson Flowers, P92,570.87; and Flower Farm, P42,600.18.

The BIR noted that Teddy Manuel, which had the lowest declared income tax due for 2012 among those the 10, “ not only arranges bouquets but also manages weddings.”

It also said that Designer Blooms, which reportedly did not file its ITR in 2012,  is “one of the most widely known flower shops” and “has the most registered branches of more than 40.”

It was not the first time for the BIR to feature companies drawn from such a list. Its January ad featured lechon business owners taken from lists made by on-line media on the best-tasting lechon in Metro Manila. – Rappler.com

Wilted flowers image from Shutterstock