The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has lauded the Department of Justice (DOJ) for filing 18 criminal charges before the Court of Tax Appeals against two major corporations and their corporate officers for engaging in fraudulent activities involving ghost receipts.
On April 10, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla formally filed criminal charges against ED Buenviaje Builders, Inc. and Synergy Sales International Corp. (SSIC), along with their respective officers, for violating Sections 254 (Attempt to Evade or Defeat Tax) and 255 (Failure to Supply Correct and Accurate Information) of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended.
The charges stemmed from complaints filed by the BIR on Nov. 22, 2023, following an in-depth investigation.
Authorities found that both companies used fraudulent receipts issued by shell corporations – Buildforce Trading, Inc. and Decarich Supertrade, Inc. – to support fictitious purchases, overstate expenses, and claim illegal input VAT credits to reduce their tax dues.
Among those indicted were Ernesto SD Buenviaje and Ruselle Anne Buenviaje of ED Buenviaje, and Arthur See and Betty Lim See of SSIC.
The alleged tax liability amounts to approximately P73.3 million, excluding penalties and surcharges.
“This case reinforces our relentless campaign to stop the use of ghost receipts. Buyers and users of ghost receipts will be imprisoned,” BIR Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr. warned.
The case forms part of a broader government initiative against ghost receipt schemes.
The DOJ had indicted Buildforce and Decarich in 2022, with those cases still pending before the Quezon City courts.*PNA
