The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) said Monday it continues its commitment to eradicate the use of ghost receipts through its Run After Fake Transactions or RAFT program.
The Department of Justice found prima facie evidence to charge Hilmarc’s Construction Corp. and its corporate officers, Efren Canlas, Robert Henson and Cristina Elisse Canlas, with violations of Sections 254 and 255 of the National Internal Revenue Code, stemming from a BIR criminal complaint filed Nov. 22, 2023.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla filed eight criminal cases against the government contractor and its corporate officers before the Court of Tax Appeals on Feb. 26, 2025.
“The BIR has repeatedly warned the public not to use ghost receipts. We will file tax evasion charges against you. You will be arrested. Even if you are one of the largest government contractors in the country, the BIR is grateful to the DOJ for its steadfast commitment in our war against ghost receipts. Together, we will make sure that under this administration, this tax evasion scheme will end,” BIR Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr. said.
Lumagui and his RAFT task force revealed substantial discrepancies and material misrepresentations in Hilmarc’s tax filings for the 2013 and 2014 tax years. The BIR said it found that Hilmarc’s benefited from the use of receipts issued by ghost companies, Everpacific Inc. and Unimaker Enterprises Inc.
The receipts were used as a deduction in its income tax returns and claimed as an input tax in its VAT return with the intent to lessen its taxes payable through illegal means.
“Defrauding the government of its due is similar to robbing our citizens of these essential services they deserve and ultimately need,” Remulla said.
Meanwhile, Lumagui said the BIR reached its collection goal for 2024.
“The BIR’s war against ghost receipts led the way in achieving our DBCC collection goal for 2024. We experienced a historic increase in VAT collection because of our RAFT task force,” Lumagui said previously.