The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) said it will file criminal charges against certified public accountants (CPA) who signed the financial statements of business taxpayers that can no longer be located (CBL).

Informed sources said revenue regional directors in Metro Manila and elsewhere have instructed their revenue district officers (RDO) to start listing down the names of these CPAs so that appropriate actions can be done.

“They will not be only be charged with tax evasion, but will be stripped of their rights to practice their profession,” said a Metro Manila revenue regional director who declined to be named.

He said the strategy is one of the programs approved by the management to meet the P2.3 trillion collection goal for the year.

Records showed that a number of taxpayers based mostly in the metropolis have been classified as CBL.

They filed returns, some electronically, but can no longer be located at their registered addresses when tax examiners visit them to audit their books of accounts signed by the CPAs.

The same source said it is not difficult to trace the whereabout of the CPAs who indiscriminately signed the tax records of their clients as the agency has the complete list of accountants authorized to transact business with agency.

Tax officials said the said CPAs can be charged with violation of Section 255 of the Tax Code for their failure to supply correct and full information of their employers.

The offense carries imprisonment from one to 10 years and a fine of P10,000.

Source: http://news.mb.com.ph/