1 week Ago By Journal Online
Bureau of Internal Revenue ( BIR ) Commissioner Romeo D. Lumagui Jr. has ordered all revenuers to conduct nationwide raids against illicit vape retailers and resellers.
The Revenue Regions and the Revenue District Offices have been ordered to monitor and raid all establishments with illicit vape products. A simultaneous and nationwide raid against retailers and resellers was conducted last October 16, 2024. Retailers/resellers were targeted because they are enablers of vape smugglers.
If resellers will not patronize vape smugglers , then the latter will have no choice but to comply with BIR regulations. “The illicit vape industry has been repeatedly warned to comply with BIR regulations. Despite multiple chances, they refuse to follow the law.
The BIR will proceed with the full deployment of enforcement activities against illicit vape retailers and resellers. Expect regular raids. Expect criminal cases.
” Commissioner Lumagui stated. Commissioner Lumagui has ordered regular and nationwide raids against illicit vape retailers and resellers . All informants, whether from the public and private sector, are encouraged to report establishments that are involved in illicit vape to the BIR.
The common violations of the illicit vape industry include that of failure to affix BIR tax stamps, failure to register as a manufacturer/importer, failure to register the vape product itself, and failure to follow the minimum floor price. “Resellers of illicit vape will be raided. They are the enablers of vape smugglers.
If there are no resellers, there will be no smugglers. The smugglers will be forced to comply with BIR regulations” Commissioner Lumagui stated. Commissioner Lumagui led several battles in the BIR’s war against illicit vape, one of which was the Sunday raid of the Philippine Vape Festival 2024 last August 18, 2024, which went viral online.
Last August 2024, the BIR raided the Taytay Tiangge Market because of the presence of Flava and other illicit vape. Last July 2024, the BIR also raided a building in Quezon City where a Flava vending machine was confiscated. There were also raids on warehouses with illicit vape in Rizal, Manila and Laguna last March and April 2024.
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