BACOLOD CITY — Operations of three business establishments here have been shut down by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Region 12, which covers Negros Island and Siquijor, for underdeclaration of sales and non-issuance of the sales invoice.
Padlocked were the head office of Blyzer Trading on Burgos Street, and its branches at Libertad Market and Barangay Sum-ag on Monday afternoon.
The BIR closure order, addressed to the owner Antonio Correos Pinto, was received by his son Charles.
The operation was conducted by personnel of BIR Region 12 headed by Regional Director Eduardo Pagulayan Jr., who said they conducted a 10-day surveillance of the three establishments, which store and sell general merchandise, in the past year.
It was conducted relative to the BIR’s “Oplan Kandado” program, which suspends business operations of non-compliant taxpayers and enforce closure of establishments found to have violated certain tax laws.
Pagulayan said the three establishments violated Section 115 of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997.
He said that these were found to have substantially under declared their sales by more than 30 percent, which is a ground for closure, and also failed to issue sales invoices to their customers.
Initial investigation indicated that the establishment on Burgos Street was registered as the head office, but the BIR is still validating whether this was only used as a warehouse, or also served as a store.
Blyzer Trading began its operation in 2003, and opened store-branches in 2013 and 2014.
“We cannot discount the possibility that they are underdeclaring their income since they started in 2003,” Pagulayan said.
He added that if the owner cannot pay the tax deficiency, he cannot operate the establishments and withdraw stocks.
A Revenue Memorandum Order provides that the closure of establishments is for a minimum of five days and shall be enforced until the violation is rectified by the concerned taxpayer.
The owner’s son said their legal counsel would answer the charges of the BIR, adding that they would comply with the requirements and settle their deficiency, if there is any. (PNA)
