TAX EVASION. BIR Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr. answers reporters' questions after filing 75 criminal complaints before the Department of Justice against individuals and firms in the illegal sale of vape products on Wednesday (Aug. 20, 2025). The complaints involved a total tax liability of PHP711.3 million. (Photo courtesy of BIR PIO)
MANILA – The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) on Wednesday filed 75 criminal complaints before the Department of Justice (DOJ) against individuals and businesses involved in the illicit trade of vaporized nicotine and non-nicotine products or "vapes" for failure to pay PHP711.3 million in taxes.
"This is a nationwide filing of criminal cases. Revenue regions from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao are filing their own local criminal cases right now. The BIR has proven that it will file cases after the biggest illicit vape sellers such as Flava, Denkat, Flare, and Tap Fog. Today, due to the continuing disobedience of illicit vape retailers, they will suffer the same fate," BIR Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr. said in a statement.
Raids and inspections uncovered the rampant selling of untaxed vape, including those without the required internal revenue stamps and proper BIR registration. The operations led to the seizure and confiscation of significant volumes of illicit vape products.
The complaints filed covered multiple violations of the Tax Code, including tax evasion, unlawful possession or removal of articles subject to excise tax without payment of the tax, and failure to file excise tax returns.
The charges were filed against business owners and possessors of untaxed or unregistered vape products.
Last February 2024, in a case initiated by the BIR, the courts ordered the issuance of warrants of arrest against vape seller Tap Fog and its conspirators, with an estimated tax liability of PHP1.2 billion.
In April 2025, the BIR filed PHP8.7 billion worth of tax evasion cases against multiple large-scale illicit vape businesses, including brands Flava, Denkat, and Flare.
"Patas dapat mag-negosyo sa Pilipinas. Bawal magbenta ng ilegal na vape. Bawal ang ghost receipts. Bawal ang large-scale online businesses na hindi nagbabayad ng tamang buwis. Wag niyo nang hintayin na kayo susunod naming kasuhan. Tigilan niyo na yan (Engaging in business here in the Philippines should be fair. Selling illegal vape, using ghost receipts, large-scale online businesses that do not pay the correct taxes are banned. Don't wait for us to sue you next. Better stop now)," Lumagui said. (PNA)
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