BIR tightens cigarette watch

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has intensified its monitoring of cigarettes products as well as their manufacturers and sellers after a recent raid in Nueva Ecija yielded illegally sold packs lacking tax stamps.

“The BIR, through its authorized representatives, will conduct on-the-spot surveillance of cigarette products either in the place of production, storage facilities or in the domestic market, as the case may be, through the use of mobile verification devices issued for the purpose of ensuring compliance” with the Internal Revenue Stamps Integrated System (Irsis) on tobacco, the tax-collection agency said in an advisory on its website.

Irsis, which mandates affixing tax stamps on cigarette packs, aims to ensure the collection of correct excise taxes on tobacco products.

“All manufacturers, importers and distributors of cigarettes are hereby reminded to strictly comply with the requirement of affixing of internal revenue stamps. All wholesalers and retailers are likewise reminded to purchase only cigarette packs with authorized tax stamps,” the BIR added.

It also reminded consumers that “any cigarette pack in the market at this time without the requisite tax stamps are presumed to be untaxed and are considered illegal products.”

The BIR made the statement after it found illegal locally made and imported cigarettes being sold in the municipality of Talavera last Monday.