BIR raids shops, extends date for acquiring NIRIs

THE Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) said Commissioner Romeo D. lumagui Jr. led the whole BIR in a series of raids last July 13 to 14, 2023.

All Revenue Regions and the l arge Taxpayers Service participated in this two-day national enforcement activity, the BIR said through a statement.

“Comply with our regulations on excisable products. Cigarettes, vape, alcohol products, sweetened beverages, petroleum products, mineral products, automobiles and other excisable articles are being closely monitored,” lumagui was quoted in a statement as saying. “Pay your excise taxes. We will raid non-compliant businesses. We will close their operations.” and any form of cyber attack that compromises their wealth, safety and privacy,” Villanueva said.

A total of 747 stores, warehouses, and different establishments were raided by the full force of the BIR. The total tax liability of these non-compliant businesses is still unclear since the BIR is still in the process of making an inventory of all the goods that were confiscated.

He added that the award was proof “that our relentless commitment to safeguarding the digital well-being of every Filipino is not only visible but deeply felt by those we aim to protect.”

A statement said that the award cited Villanueva for having played “a pivotal role in accelerating RCBC’s digital transformation by scaling life-enabling inclusive digital financial services especially for financiallyexcluded areas.”

The statement said improving cyber protection in the Philippines was acknowledged by the private sector as pressing. It said 43 percent of all organizations have increased their fund allocation for cybersecurity solutions.

“It comes as no surprise that in 2021, Philippines’s cybersecurity market generated mammoth revenues of close to $205.2 million,” it added.

The event was also attended by cybersecurity experts including the heads of information security, risk, compliance, forensics, and cyber law from the leading public and private enterprises across the country.

“What is clear is that lumagui commits to the filing of criminal cases against the traders and owners of the raided stores and the destruction of the confiscated goods,” the BIR said.

The first time the BIR conducted a nationwide raid was also led by l u magui last January 2023. Thereafter, he also led the nationwide filing of criminal cases against all the illicit traders discovered during the January raid last May 2023.

NIRI

MEANWHIlE, on July 19, lumagui issued Revenue Memorandum Circular (RMC) 75-2023 extending the deadline for securing the new Notice to Issue Receipts/Invoices (NIRI) on or before September 30, 2023.

The NIRI is required to be conspicuously dis- played at the taxpayer’s business establishment, replacing the old “Ask for Receipt” Notice. It is a reminder to owners of establishments to always issue receipts/invoices for all sale of services/goods, whether the buyer asked for it or not.

To obtain the NIRI, taxpayers are required to fill out S1905-Registration Update Sheet wherein they will indicate or update their designated official email address. The email address will be used by the BIR as additional option in serving official orders, notices, letters, communications, and other processes to the taxpayers.

Business taxpayers are strongly encouraged to comply with the renewal requirement and to complete the necessary registration update on or before September 30, 2023. Failure to do so will result to the imposition of penalty of not more than P1,000 pursuant to Section 275 of the Tax Code, as amended.

“We urge all business taxpayers to take immediate action to fulfill their tax obligations and to ensure compliance with the updated requirements,” lumagui was quoted in the statement as saying.

“We also encourage the taxpaying public to report business establishments that have failed to prominently display the NIRI in their business premises.”

Non-compliance with the posting of NIRI can be reported through the eComplaint platform or through its chatbot that can be accessed in the BIR’s web site.