Gas station owners who will attempt to sell untaxed petroleum products and smuggled goods will be criminally prosecuted, according to the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).
This was the warning issued by Revenue Deputy Commissioner for Operations Arnel Guballa after the BIR, Bureau of Customs (BOC), and the Department of Finance (DOF) signed the regulations on fuel marking as mandated under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law.
Fuel markings is a scheme where chemicals, which can’t be detected with the naked eye, are added to gasoline and other petroleum products. When examined by special electronic gadgets, the added chemicals will determine if the supplies come from legitimate sources.
The government reportedly loses around P30 billion yearly in excise and value-added taxes due to smuggled petroleum products.
Some gas station owners reportedly mix gasoline with other lower priced products to produce larger profits.
Motorists support the fuel marking project as it will inform them of the true quality of petroleum products.
Guballa said a surprise inspection of all gas outlets will be conducted around Metro Manila and other provinces, including warehouses and depots where supplies are stored before delivery to retail outlets, as reported in a Manila Bulletin report.
Under the newly signed guideline, the BIR and BOC have police powers to seize the unmarked products and arrest violating gas station owners.
