Rappler ‘swak’ sa P133.84-M tax evasion raps

SINAMPAHAN ng Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) ang Rappler Holdings Corp. ng P133.84 milyon tax evasion complaint.

Ayon sa BIR, inihain ang kaso sa Department of Justice laban sa Rappler Holdings, sa presidente nito na si Maria Ressa, at treasurer na si James Bitanga “for willful attempt to evade or defeat tax and for deliberate failure to supply correct and accurate information in its annual income tax return and value-added tax returns for taxable year 2015” na paglabag sa National Internal Revenue Code of 1997.

Ipinunto ng BIR na ang Rappler Holdings ay bumili ng common shares mula sa Rappler Inc., sa halagang P19,245,975.00, at pagkatapos ay nag-isyu at nagbenta ng Philippine Depositary Receipts (PDRs) sa iba’t ibang petsa sa dalawang foreign judicial entities para sa kabuuang halagang P181,658,758.67.

“Rappler Holdings used the same common shares it purchased from Rappler Inc. as the underlying asset/share of the PDRs,” ayon sa BIR.

“The purchase of shares and the subsequent issuance of the PDRs for profit that transmitted economic rights (e.g. financial returns or cash distributions) derived from the equity of Rappler Inc. to the PDR holders is proof that Rappler Holdings is engaged in purchase of securities and resale thereof,” ayon pa sa BIR.

“For dealing in securities, Rappler Holdings is subject to income tax and value-added tax,” pahayag ng BIR.

Gayonman, sa annual income tax return at VAT returns ng kompanya para sa 2015 ay nakitang walang income tax at VAT na binayaran ang Rappler Holdings para sa kanilang kinita mula sa PDR transactions.

“As a consequence of its acts and omissions, the aggregate tax liability of Rappler Holdings amounted to P133,841,305.75,” ayon pa sa ahensiya.