Facts:
The CIR authorized certain BIR officers to examine the books of accounts and other accounting records of Pascor Realty and Development Corp. (PRDC) for 1986, 1987 and 1988. The examination resulted in recommendation for the issuance of an assessment of P7,498,434.65 and P3,015,236.35 for 1986 and 1987, respectively. On March 1, 1995, Commissioner filed a criminal complaint for tax evasion against PRDC, its president and treasurer before the DOJ. Private respondents filed immediately an urgent request for reconsideration on reinvestigation disputing the tax assessment and tax liability.
On March 23, 1995, private respondents received a subpoena from the DOJ in connection with the criminal complaint. In a letter dated, May 17, 1995, the Commissioner denied private respondent’s request for reconsideration (reinvestigation on the ground that no formal assessment has been issued which the latter elevated to the CTA on a petition for review. The Commissioner’s motion to dismiss on the ground of the CTA’s lack of jurisdiction inasmuch as no formal assessment was issued against private respondent was denied by CTA and ordered the Commissioner to file an answer but did not instead filed a petition with the CA alleging grave abuse of discretion and lack of jurisdiction on the part of CTA for considering the affidavit/report of the revenue officers and the endorsement of said report as assessment which may be appealed to he CTA. The CA sustained the CTA decision and dismissed the petition.
Issue:
1. Whether or not the criminal complaint for tax evasion can be construed as an assessment
2. Whether or not an assessment is necessary before criminal charges for tax evasion may be instituted
Ruling:
1. No. The filing of the criminal complaint with the DOJ cannot be construed as a formal assessment. Neither the Tax Code nor the revenue regulations governing the protest assessments provide a specific definition or form of an assessment.
An assessment must be sent to and received by the taxpayer, and must demand payment of the taxes described therein within a specific period. The revenue officer’s affidavit merely contained a computation of respondent’s tax liability. It did not state a demand or period for payment. It was addressed to the Secretary of Justice not to the taxpayer. They joint affidavit was meant to support the criminal complaint for tax evasion; it was not meant to be a notice of tax due and a demand to private respondents for the payment thereof. The fact that the complaint was sent to the DOJ, and not to private respondent, shows that commissioner intended to file a criminal complaint for tax evasion, not to issue an assessment.
2. No. An assessment is not necessary before criminal charges can be filed. A criminal charge need not only be supported by a prima facie showing of failure to file a required return. The CIR had, in such tax evasion cases, discretion on whether to issue an assessment, or to file a criminal case against the taxpayer, or to do both.
The CIR authorized certain BIR officers to examine the books of accounts and other accounting records of Pascor Realty and Development Corp. (PRDC) for 1986, 1987 and 1988. The examination resulted in recommendation for the issuance of an assessment of P7,498,434.65 and P3,015,236.35 for 1986 and 1987, respectively. On March 1, 1995, Commissioner filed a criminal complaint for tax evasion against PRDC, its president and treasurer before the DOJ. Private respondents filed immediately an urgent request for reconsideration on reinvestigation disputing the tax assessment and tax liability.
On March 23, 1995, private respondents received a subpoena from the DOJ in connection with the criminal complaint. In a letter dated, May 17, 1995, the Commissioner denied private respondent’s request for reconsideration (reinvestigation on the ground that no formal assessment has been issued which the latter elevated to the CTA on a petition for review. The Commissioner’s motion to dismiss on the ground of the CTA’s lack of jurisdiction inasmuch as no formal assessment was issued against private respondent was denied by CTA and ordered the Commissioner to file an answer but did not instead filed a petition with the CA alleging grave abuse of discretion and lack of jurisdiction on the part of CTA for considering the affidavit/report of the revenue officers and the endorsement of said report as assessment which may be appealed to he CTA. The CA sustained the CTA decision and dismissed the petition.
Issue:
1. Whether or not the criminal complaint for tax evasion can be construed as an assessment
2. Whether or not an assessment is necessary before criminal charges for tax evasion may be instituted
Ruling:
1. No. The filing of the criminal complaint with the DOJ cannot be construed as a formal assessment. Neither the Tax Code nor the revenue regulations governing the protest assessments provide a specific definition or form of an assessment.
An assessment must be sent to and received by the taxpayer, and must demand payment of the taxes described therein within a specific period. The revenue officer’s affidavit merely contained a computation of respondent’s tax liability. It did not state a demand or period for payment. It was addressed to the Secretary of Justice not to the taxpayer. They joint affidavit was meant to support the criminal complaint for tax evasion; it was not meant to be a notice of tax due and a demand to private respondents for the payment thereof. The fact that the complaint was sent to the DOJ, and not to private respondent, shows that commissioner intended to file a criminal complaint for tax evasion, not to issue an assessment.
2. No. An assessment is not necessary before criminal charges can be filed. A criminal charge need not only be supported by a prima facie showing of failure to file a required return. The CIR had, in such tax evasion cases, discretion on whether to issue an assessment, or to file a criminal case against the taxpayer, or to do both.
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