BIR to destroy 448,000 vapes

THE BUREAU of Internal Revenue (BIR) on Monday led the simultaneous nationwide destruction of illicit vape products as part of its efforts to halt the illegal trade of excisable goods.

The agency began the destruction of 448,494 units of illicit vape products with an estimated excise tax liability of P1.34 billion, inclusive of penalties.

It will continue over the next three days.

“The government does not — and will not — tolerate the sale of vape and vapor products without the full and proper payment of excise taxes, as evidenced by the excise tax stamps that must be affixed to every vape product sold,” Commissioner of Internal Revenue Charlito Martin R. Mendoza

said in a statement. The BIR

said it has seized a total of 742,778 units of illicit vape products, translating to P2.73 billion in estimated tax liability, inclusive of penalties. These we

re found to be in violation of excise tax laws due to nonpayment of excise taxes, non-affixture of internal revenue stamps, and non-registration of vape brands. “… the a

bsence of excise tax stamps tells us that these distributors and sellers undermined and evaded government oversight of these sin products, including our authority to monitor, regulate, and control their sale and distribution,” Mr. Mendoza said.

BIR continues

to conduct enforcement operations as mandated by Section 6(C) of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended, and implemented through duly issued Mission Orders. The destructio