Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner Lilia Catris Guillermo has formed a special task force to go after big-time tax cheats and those in the underground economy.
The targets included gasoline and cigarettes smugglers, as well as local manufacturers of cigarette products who use fake revenue stamps to escape payment of excise tax.
The BIR chief designated Revenue Deputy Commissioner for Operations Romeo D. Lumague, Jr. to head the so-called "BIR Strike Group."
It is composed of two teams covering taxpayers under the large taxpayers service (LTS) and those belonging to the 24 regional offices.
Guillermo instructed Lumague as well as the regional directors to issue mission order for every "overt" and "covert" operations to discourage unscrupulous and crafty individuals from going around and extorting money from gullible store owners.
Guillermo told the group in Revenue Memorandum Order No. 40-2022 "to conduct enforcement activities, forfeiture and prosecution of cases related to unlicensed production, importation and distribution of products subject to excise tax."
"The task force shall provide for the immediate imposition of penalties and sanctions to stop illegal activities," she added.
The enforcement task force was formed to enhance voluntary tax compliance.