Guo faces tax evasion raps

Dismissed mayor Alice Guo of Bamban, Tarlac is facing a complaint for not paying P500,000 in capital gains tax on the purported sale of her shares in Baofu Land Development Inc.

- DAPHNE GALVEZ

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) yesterday filed before the Department of Justice a tax evasion complaint against Guo in connection with the transfer and later sale of her shares in Baofu Land.

According to BIR Commissioner Romeo Lumagui, the transfer of shares to a certain Jack Uy had no capital gains tax and documentary stamp tax, thereby violating the National Internal Revenue Code, particularly Section 254 (attempt to evade or defeat tax), Section 255 (failure to file CGT and DST returns), and Section 250 (failure to file/supply certain information).

Aside from Guo, also charged in the complaint were Uy, and Baofu corporate secretary Rachelle Joan Malonzo Carreon.

“We found that the taxes for this transfer of shares have not been paid, so it’s clear that there is tax evasion in this transaction,” Lumagui said.

If found guilty, the respondents of the case could face imprisonment.

He added that the audit being conducted by the BIR covers the entire business operations of Guo that were disclosed during the Senate hearing on her alleged ties to Philippine offshore gaming operators or POGOs.