BY: Rey Panaligan
Popular actor Richard Gutierrez is in deeper trouble after submitting to the Department of Justice (DoJ) alleged falsified documents in the P38.57 million tax evasion case filed against him by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).
For “knowingly using and submitting falsified” annual income tax return for 2012 and quarterly value-added tax returns for three quarters of the same year, the BIR slapped Gutierrez with charges of falsification of public documents and two counts of perjury.
The BIR told the DoJ Gutierrez filed “fake and falsified tax returns to secure the dismissal of the tax evasion case filed against R Gutz Production, Corp.”
It said “he resorted to this scheme to evade payment of taxes/fees imposed by NIRC (National Internal Revenue Code) of 1997 thereby defrauding the government of much needed revenues.”
“The attached returns were deceptively made to appear to have been stamped received by Revenue District Office No. 42 – San Juan City. Revenue District Office No. 42 – San Juan City and the Document Processing Division of BIR Quezon City both certified that R Gutz Production Corp. had no VAT returns filed for the 2nd, 3rd and 4th quarters of taxable year 2012,” the BIR said in its complaint.
Gutierrez appeared before DoJ prosecutors last month and submitted his counter-affidavit to the P38.57 million tax evasion case.
His lawyers told the DoJ the actor has no tax liability since his taxes have already been settled with the BIR.
The complaint for tax evasion was filed by the BIR last April, alleging that Gutierrez’s firm, R Gutz Production Corporation, failed to file its income tax returns and value added tax for 2012.