BIR warns against tax ‘fixers’

THE BUREAU of Internal Revenue (BIR) put out a warning to the public on Tuesday against unscrupulous individuals acting as “fixers” and promising to settle an individual’s or company’s tax issues.

Commissioner Romeo B. Lumagui, Jr. issued the warning in a statement announcing the arrest of fixers earlier this month and their being charged with extortion.

“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,” said Mr. Lumagui.

He noted that the syndicate was found to have extorted P3.6 million from a taxpayer using forged documents and their “alleged connection with high-ranking BIR officials.”

“The arrested fixers used acknowledgement receipts with the forged signatures of the aforementioned officials of the BIR for processing of documents, extension of compliance with Computerized Accounting System and processing and fixation of transfer from one Revenue District Office to another,” the bureau said.

“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,” it added.

In February, a BIR employee was arrested for extorting a bike shop. – Luisa Maria Jacinta C. Jocson