BUREAU of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr. warns the taxpaying public to avoid dealing with unscrupulous individuals that act as “fixers” for their tax obligations. This is in relation to a syndicate that was busted last April 12 while extorting millions of pesos from a taxpayer with the promise of “fixing” their tax issues.
The syndicate, composed of private citizens and not BIR employees, extorted P3.6 million from the taxpayer, using their alleged connection with high-ranking BIR officials. The syndicate even used forged signatures of the BIR commissioner, the deputy commissioner for operations group, the deputy commissioner of the legal group, the assistant commissioner of the large taxpayer service, and a revenue district officer.
“The arrest of this syndicate of fixers serves as a reminder to all taxpayers to avoid dealing with these groups and to always verify the authority of any person in dealing with your tax obligations. We urge the public to report to the BIR these individuals/groups. We will help you entrap and arrest them,” Commissioner Lumagui said
The arrested fixers used acknowledgement receipts with the forged signatures of the BIR officials for purported processing of documents, extension of compliance with computerized accounting system,” and processing and fixation of transfer from one Revenue District Office to another.
All of these processes are regulated by the BIR itself and may be processed in its offices. There is no need for a “fixer” because there is already a system in place. The BIR has adequate revenue memorandum circulars, revenue memorandum orders, and other regulations that will guide the taxpayer in dealing with these concerns, the BIR said.