PADLOCKED. Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Revenue Region 18 (RR18) Director Rodrigo Rivamonte (center, in dark blue polo shirt) led BIR officials and personnel in the implementation of a closure order for 60 business establishments in the Soccsksargen Region on Friday (Oct. 7, 2022) for violation of internal revenue laws. Backed by the police, the BIR shut down an arcade in Tacurong City as one of the padlocked businesses. (Photo courtesy of BIR-RR18)
TACURONG CITY – Personnel of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) shut down Friday across Soccsksargen Region some 60 establishments registered under a single owner for violation of internal revenue laws.
BIR-Revenue Region 18 (RR18) Director Rodrigo Rivamonte led the implementation of the closure order for the various businesses registered under owner Marites Laforteza Mones, whose main office is registered under Revenue District Office 109-Tacurong City.
The business proprietor operates 42 pharmacy stores, five local media outlets, six restaurants, and two beauty salons, among others.
“The set of closure orders were signed by Deputy Commissioner-Operations Romeo D. Lumagui, Jr. for violation of internal revenue laws, rules, and regulations,” Rivamonte said in a statement.
Among the participating BIR RR18 field offices in the shutdown where Mones has registered business branches were Revenue District Office (RDO) 109 – Tacurong City, RDO 111 - Koronadal City, RDO 110 - General Santos City, and RDO 108 - Kidapawan City.
Rivamonte said the closures stemmed from the conduct of surveillance on the daily sales of the taxpayer.
“It was established that there was an under-declaration of sales by more than 30 percent,” he said.
Rivamonte said the closure order may only be lifted when there has been a payment of deficiency taxes, inclusive of penalties corresponding to the understatement of taxable sales or receipts. (PNA)
