BIR files P8.5 billion tax evasion case against illicit cigarette operation

Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner Romeo D. Lumagui Jr. announced that the BIR has filed a P8.5 billion tax evasion case against individuals involved in an illicit cigarette operation, with criminal cases filed on November 14 and February 7.

The raid, conducted on November 6, 2024, targeted an illegal cigarette factory in Bulacan and three warehouses in Valenzuela, seizing raw materials, machines, and arresting six Chinese nationals.

The BIR calculated a total tax liability of P8,544,809,067.50 from the confiscated items, marking it as one of the largest operations against illicit cigarettes in 2024.

Lumagui emphasized that all large-scale illicit cigarette manufacturing and distribution operations are criminal under Philippine law, including violations of the National Internal Revenue Code.

The BIR will continue to file criminal cases against those involved in illegal cigarette activities, regardless of their scale.