The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has warned celebrities and influencers against promoting vape products that may not comply with tax regulations.
In a statement on Thursday, Aug. 22, BIR Commissioner Romeo D. Lumagui Jr. urged public figures to verify the tax compliance of the vape products they endorse.
This warning follows a recent raid at the Philippine Vape Festival 2024, during which authorities confiscated illegal vapes.
According to Lumagui, the event was heavily promoted by celebrities and influencers, whose names and faces were prominently featured in social media posts and marketing materials.
"Celebrities, Influencers, and Endorsers of the Philippine Vape Festival 2024 should be more responsible in promoting vape products,” Lumagui said.
“Instruct your agents or managers not to accept endorsements or promotions that involve illicit vape. Instead, let us aim to promote compliant vapes, for the safety of our fellow Filipinos," he added.
Aside from endorsers, the BIR chief urged festival organizers and stall owners selling illicit vape products to take responsibility for their operations.
Lumagui said that the absence of an internal revenue stamp on vape products is a blatant violation of tax laws.
He noted that the organizers and vendors at the festival should have met this fundamental requirement.
"Yung organizers ng Philippine Vape Festival 2024, at yung mga owners ng vape products na may stall sa festival, bakit niyo pinayagan na walang internal revenue stamp yung mga vape sa festival?” Lumagui said.
[To the organizers of the Philippine Vape Festival 2024 and the owners of the vape products with stalls at the festival: why did you allow vape products without an internal revenue stamp?]
“You have the responsibility to check the compliance of the vape products in the festival. Nag-imbita kayo ng daan-daang Pilipino, tapos ilegal na vape i-didisplay niyo? Hindi kayo compliant, wag niyo lokohin yung publiko" Lumagui stated.
[You have the responsibility to ensure the compliance of the vape products at the festival. You invited hundreds of Filipinos, and then you're displaying illegal vapes? You're not compliant—don't deceive the public.]
Last Sunday, the BIR Illicit Trade Task Force raided the Philippine Vape Festival 2024, which was executed in the presence of hundreds of festival-goers and other members of the vape industry.
The BIR confiscated 5,385 illicit vape, all of which have no internal revenue stamps.
"The BIR is for fair competition in the vape industry. Pay your taxes, compete fairly. It would be unfair to vape companies who are regularly paying their taxes if the BIR will not enforce its mandate of fair taxation against non-compliant vape companies," Lumagui added.