ni Lolet Abania | February 23, 2022
Pansamantalang ipinasara ng Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) ang 18 licensed Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) at kanilang support service providers na matatagpuan sa Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA) dahil bigo ang mga itong magparehistro sa naturang tax agency.
Sa isang pahayag ngayong Miyerkules, iniutos ng BIR na isara ang mga kumpanya ng POGO at service providers sa isinagawang enforcement operations ng kanilang POGO Task Force noong Pebrero 11.
Batay sa BIR, ang mga POGO entities na isinara, kung saan lahat ito ay offshore-based at duly licensed ng CEZA na mayroong interactive gaming ay Asian BGE Limited, Fine Day Holdings Limited, Hana Talk Inc., NCGAC Limited, NEO Kingdom Limited, Oak Tree Services, Limited, Succeed Asia Limited, Wealthy Leap, at WUS Technologies Holdings Limited.
Habang ang mga support service providers naman ng mga naturang POGO licensees, na lahat ito ay CEZA-registered enterprises na suspendido rin ang kanilang operasyon ay Alpha Fortune Management Solutions, Inc., Empire Group International & Management Tech Services, Inc., Hi-Source Services, Inc., Kui Business Services, Inc., Lyndhurst Services, Inc., Pacific Solutions Management, Rimrock ICT Services, Inc., Succeed Asia Ventures, Inc., Top Asia Leisure and Entertainment Corporation.
Alinsunod sa Section 2 ng Republic Act 11590 o ang POGO Law, dapat ikonsidera ng isang offshore gaming licensee na engaged o pinapayagan nang magkaroon sila ng business o negosyo sa Pilipinas, kaya nararapat na i-require sila na magpa-register sa BIR, ayon sa ahensiya.
Sa ilalim ng Section 5 ng Revenue Regulations (RR) No. 20-2021 ay nakasaad, “non-registration of POGOs with the BIR is a fraudulent act, which bears with it the penalty of implementing the closure orders against the erring offshore gaming licensees that shall likewise include the closure of all their respective accredited service providers.”
Giit pa ng BIR, ang mga business operations ng mga POGO licensees at service providers ay mananatiling suspendido, hangga’t ang kanilang registration requirements at iba pang kaukulang tax regulations ay ma-comply at ang katumbas na deficiency taxes at penalties ay mabayaran.
“May these closure operations against unregistered POGO entities, along with our other tax enforcement activities like filing of tax evasion cases and intensified tax audit and investigation, serve as a deterrent for those who would commit tax violations,” pahayag ni BIR Commissioner Caesar Dulay.
“We urge all taxpayers to comply with the Bureau’s registration requirement, filing and payment of taxes, and other tax obligations in order to avoid facing business closure, penalties and possible criminal charges before the court,” sabi pa ng opisyal.
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