BIR probes employees for leaking sensitive data

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) is looking into an alleged leak of confidential information obtained from tax tipsters.

In Revenue Memorandum Circular No. 50-2016 issued last April 22, BIR Commissioner Kim S. Jacinto-Henares said the leak was allegedly perpetrated by the bureau’s own officers and employees.

Henares said the information has already reached the concerned taxpayer, the subject of a separate probe for tax deficiencies.

“This does not only erode the confidence of the taxpaying public in the reliability and ability of this bureau to safeguard the secrecy of the information it acquired but also puts the life and safety of the tax informant in danger,” the BIR chief said.

The BIR welcomes tipsters to provide the agency with information about alleged tax-evading activities of personalities and firms.

Henares “strongly reminded” all BIR officials and employees that “unauthorized disclosure or divulgence of official or confidential information is criminally and administratively punishable by law and existing revenue issuances.”

Henares cited Section 270 of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997 or the Tax Code, which provided violators would be slapped with imprisonment of two to five years on top of a fine of between P50,000 and P100,000.

Unauthorized disclosure of confidential information constituted a grave offense, she added.

The BIR investigates the tips it gets. A monetary reward is then given to tipsters in case the evidence provided is proven strong by a court.

A number of cases filed under the agency’s Oplan Kandado and Run Against Tax Evaders (Rate) programs stemmed from tips that the BIR had previously received.

Henares had said that Oplan Kandado, which shutters tax-deficient establishments, and Rate, which brings alleged tax evaders to court, have consistently placed among the BIR’s top priority programs as these significantly improved the government’s revenue collection goals.