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Bureau of Internal Revenue Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr., August 3, 2023. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File
MANILA — The Bureau of Internal Revenue said Thursday it was conducting a lifestyle check on contractors who were publicly “flaunting” their assets.
This comes after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s order to conduct lifestyle checks on all government officials amid the ongoing probe into anomalous flood control projects in the country.
BIR Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr. said they would determine whether these contractors were tax compliant.
“Malawak ang magiging role ng BIR dito sa lifestyle checks ano. Ngayon ang ginagawa natin na lifestyle checks doon sa mga contractors at saka iyong may-ari ng mga contractors na ito dahil nakikita natin na marami silang ari-arian na pinu-flaunt,” Lumagui said.
“Nakikita natin na malaki ang kanilang mga properties, iyong titingnan natin so ibabangga natin iyan sa revenues,” he said in a television interview with state-run media PTV.
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He added that they would conduct lifestyle checks on government officials.
“Dahil nga sa direktiba ng ating mahal na Pangulo ay titingnan din natin iyong sa mga government officials. So, titingnan natin kung saan din hahantong ito dahil lalawak nang lalawak ang magiging imbestigasyon ng BIR,” he said.
“Ang layunin lang naman diyan, makita kung tugma ba ang kanilang mga assets doon sa mga binayad nilang buwis,” Lumagui added.
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The BIR chief added that a tax fraud audit on contractors involved in anomalous flood control projects was ongoing.
Those who will be proven tax deficient will be required to pay deficiency taxes and will not be issued an updated tax clearance.
They will also be disqualified from succeeding government procurements and will be suspended from final settlement for existing government contracts.
“Kung kinakailangan na, maglalagay tayo ng tax lien sa mga kontrata para masigurado na maprotektahan ang pondo ng bayan,” he added.
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They may also face tax evasion cases, according to Lumagui.
“Ito’y hindi lang simpleng administrative process lang, ang layunin nito ay tiyakin na lahat ng kumikita mula sa proyektong pinondohan ng buwis ng taumbayan ay nagbabayad din ng tamang buwis,” the BIR chief said.
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