According to a report by ABS-CBN on January 20, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) in the Philippines has announced that they will be filing more lawsuits against illegal e-cigarette importers and distributors by 2025, as many retailers are still selling unregistered products.
Bureau of Internal Revenue Director Romeo Lumagui Jr. stated that in the first quarter of 2025, the BIR plans to file lawsuits against illegal e-cigarette traders. He pointed out that some businesses sell compliant products openly while continuing to sell illegal products hidden from view.
In 2024, the BIR seized 560,000 e-cigarette products, totaling 415 million pesos (7.1 million USD) in taxes. Commissioner Lu Maggi also stated that the BIR is intensifying its pursuit of online retailers.
Many online sellers have made huge profits without properly declaring them. We want to achieve fairness, as traditional brick-and-mortar stores are all registered and pay the correct taxes.
The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) reached a tax collection of 2.86 trillion pesos (490 billion USD) in 2024. It is projected that by 2025, BIR tax revenue will reach 3.232 trillion pesos (550 billion USD).
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