Agents of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) have seized boxes of electronic cigarettes, or vape products, in two separate raids in Taguig and Paranaque.
The operations, which were given a go by Revenue Deputy Commissioner for Operations Arnel SD. Guballa, stemmed from reports that the Apolloplus Distribution Inc. did not pay excise tax for selling the products for selling the vape products.
Director Greg M. Buhain, of the Laguna-Quezon-Marinduque revenue region, then coordinated with the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) in hauling the seized products to the BIR regional office in San Pablo City for inventory and assessment of the deficiency taxes.
Apolloplus is likely to get back the items after settling the tax liabilities as what the Manila revenue region did when it confiscated the same items at various retail outlets early this year.
The bureau has adopted a lenient policy on the relatively new vape business pending the issuance of a definitive tax guidelines.
Vape simulates tobacco smoking, inhaling vapor instead of smoke.
Many smokers have been shifting to vaping on wrong notion that it does not contain nicotine and other harmful ingredients.