The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has recently seized illegal vape products with total tax liability valued at P151.1 million.
In a social media post yesterday, BIR Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr. said the BIR raided three warehouses in Manila and Rizal last March 27.
These warehouses contained 63,139 illegal vape units which were confiscated by the BIR.
“Register your vape businesses and we will help you. Pay the proper excise taxes on your vape products and we will help you,” Lumagui said.
“The raids and confiscation of vape businesses and products is the result of your non-registration and non-payment of excise taxes. The BIR is here to help in the registration and proper payment of taxes of all vape businesses. We will guide you every step of the way,” he added.
The BIR said those responsible for the captured illegal vape products will face civil and criminal cases under the National Internal Revenue Code for the violation of Section 106 – Value-Added Tax on Sale of Goods or Properties; Section 130 – Filing of Return and Payment of Excise Tax on Domestic Products; Section 131 – Payment of Excise Taxes on Imported Articles; Section 144 – Tobacco Products, Heated Tobacco Products, and Vapor Products; Section 146 – Inspection Fee; Section 248 – Civil Penalties; Section 249 – Interest; Section 254 – Attempt to Evade or Defeat Tax; and Section 263 – Unlawful Possession or Removal of Articles Subject to Excise Tax Without Payment of the Tax.
