The BIR said charges were filed against Ensogo Inc., its president Krit Srivorakul and treasurer Xelynne de Lara for willful failure to remit taxes and deliberate failure to pay taxes from October 31, 2011 to October 31, 2014 amounting to P36.1 million, inclusive of surcharge, interest, and compromise penalty.
Ensogo provides marketing services to its merchants, which are engaged in the leisure, catering and entertainment industries.
It serves as a withholding agent mandated to withhold taxes on various income payments to its suppliers and to withhold taxes on the compensation of its employees, and an Electronic Filing and Payment System (eFPS) taxpayer.
However, BIR said investigators discovered that while Ensogo electronically filed its withholding tax and value-added tax (VAT) returns, it “deliberately, willfully, and continuously failed” to remit taxes withheld and/or pay the corresponding withholding taxes and VAT due thereon, whether electronically or manually resulting to considerable revenue losses for the government.
The Ensogo website sells a selection of products, services and travel offers at discount prices to customers in the Philippines, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.
Ensogo, on the other hand, was founded in 2010 and has a registered office at the Bonifacio Global City.
CashCashPinoy says it is paying taxes
Charges were also filed against Moonline Inc., which is engaged in the sale of products and services through the deals website CashCashPinoy, its president Frederic Elie Levy and treasurer Bernadette Levy for willful attempt to evade or defeat tax, and deliberate failure to supply correct and accurate information in its income tax returns (ITR) for taxable years 2011, 2012 and 2013.
The case against Moonline Inc. stemmed from the BIR's campaign to improve revenue collections to meet its collection target by capturing into the tax net the sale of products and services through online websites.
The BIR said that based on its investigation, Moonline underdeclared its correct taxable income by 23 percent or P9.31 million in 2011, by 240 percent or P111.09 million in 2012, and by 181 percent or P129.88 million in 2013.
Moonline was also sued for an aggregate income tax liability amounting to P132.51 million, inclusive of surcharges and interests.
In a statement, Moonline denied the allegations, saying it has paid the proper taxes.
"Our company has always paid the proper taxes as any law abiding business in the Philippines should. In addition to this, Since 2011, Moonline is audited every year by the firm KPMG. We have not been officially notified of any complaints against us for alleged failure to pay the correct taxes. Should there be additional requirements from the Bureau of Internal Revenue, we are ready to comply with them," the company said.
Moonline’s CashCashPinoy was founded in 2011 and holds its offices in Paseo De Roxas, Makati City.
source: www.abs-cbnnews.com
