Philippine Internal Revenue Service: Seizes Over 500 Illegal E-cigarette Retailers With Tax Liabilities Totaling $3.09 Million

Philippine Internal Revenue Service: Seizes over 500 illegal e-cigarette retailers with tax liabilities totaling $3.09 million

The Philippine Internal Revenue Service (BIR) has seized 506 illegal electronic cigarette retailers and distributors as of October 2024, with a tax liability of $3.09 million. These enterprises often violate the law due to unpaid consumption tax, lack of tax stamps, and lack of registration.

According to the Philippine government news website "Philippine News Agency" (PNA) on November 6th, Romeo Lumagui Jr., the Director of the Philippine Internal Revenue Service (BIR), stated that as of October this year, BIR has seized 506 illegal electronic cigarette retailers and distributors.

The director stated that issues such as unpaid consumption tax, lack of internal tax stamps, and failure to register with the tax bureau are common illegal behaviors of illegal electronic cigarette retailers and distributors, involving a total tax liability of 181.69 million Philippine pesos (3.09 million US dollars).

As of the end of October 2024, BIR has seized 506 illegal electronic cigarette retailers and distributors during our raid operations. After our nationwide raid on October 16th last year, the number of illegal e-cigarette shops increased significantly