BIR padlocks 5 department stores in Zamboanga City

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Sept. 9, 2011) – Five department stores in Zamboanga City were padlocked after its owners failed to pay their taxes.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) said the stores - Shoppers’ Center, Shoppers’ Central, Shoppers’ Emporium, Shoppers’ Plaza and Shoppers’ Square – failed to pay P54 million in Value-Added Tax since early this year.

BIR Regional Director Rozil Lozares said the store owners ignored repeated demands for them to pay their tax. He said they gave the owners five days to pay up at least 5% of the total amount of taxes so they can resume their business.

The closure affected hundreds of employees.

“We are giving the owners five days to settle at least five percent of the basic tax so I can recommend to the Commissioner to lift the order,” Lozares told reporters.

He was referring to Kim Jacinto-Henares, the BIR chief.

Lozares said they are also monitoring other establishments which are not complying with the Value-Added Tax. It is a tax on consumption levied on the sale, barter, exchange or lease of goods or properties and services and on importation of goods into the Philippines.

It is an indirect tax, which may be shifted or passed on to the buyer, transferee or lessee of goods, properties or services. (Mindanao Examiner)