DOJ files 20 tax evasion cases against 3 corporations

On Monday, the Department of Justice (DOJ) filed multiple charges of tax evasion against three industrial corporations before the Court of Tax Appeals.

The DOJ lodged fourteen cases against Total Metal Corporation, four against Equator Energy Corporation, and two against Limhuaco Metal Industrial Incorporated on January 24, 2025, for employing dirty business tactics to defraud the State.

All cases involve violations of Sections 253(d), 254, 255, and 256 of the National Internal Revenue Code (NIRC) of 1997, stemming from a complaint by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) under its Run After Fake Transactions program.

Justice Secretary Jesus 'Boying' Remulla emphasized that tax evasion deprives citizens of essential government services and is akin to robbing them of these necessities.

The DOJ anticipates warrants of arrest against the corporations and their officers will be issued soon, reflecting a P3.232-trillion tax collection target for 2025, which represents a 13% increase from the previous year.