BIR files tax evasion raps vs. Brazilian host Daiana Menezes

QUEZON CITY — The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) filed last week before the Department of Justice (DOJ) tax evasion charges against Brazilian television personality Daiana A. Menezes for non-payment of P983,658.07 in taxes.

BIR Commissioner Kim Jacinto-Henares said that Menezes was charged for her attempt to evade or defeat tax, and willful failure to file returns and to pay taxes under Section 254 and Section 255 of the Tax Code, respectively.

Menezes, a Brazilian actress, model and TV host whoe has been residing in the country since 2007 with address at Unit 4C Bright Place Condominium, Scout Bayoran St., Quezon City, laugh off the charges,  saying she has been paying taxes regularly. 

She is a regular host of the popular noontime TV variety show “Eat Bulaga” in GMA-7 since 2007.

Verification of Menezes’ tax records showed that she did not file any return for taxable years 2007 to 2009 despite being required under the law as a resident alien deriving income from within the Philippines.

Based on documents gathered by the BIR, Menezes received a total taxable income of P2,659,668.10 in 2007 to 2009 from various sources, including Baliwag Lechon Manok, Inc., TAPE, Inc. and GMA Network but failed to pay any tax.

Henares noted that Menezes registered with the BIR under Executive Order No. 98 for the purpose of merely securing a Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) as part of the essential requirements in all applications for a government permit, license, clearance, official paper or document.

Under such registration, Menezes’ tax type is “not taxable”, which will show the willfulness of her act of evading payment of taxes.

Henares said that by reason of her deliberate and repeated non-declaration of revenues or income for taxable years 2007 to 2009 and her failure to pay the income taxes and percentage taxes due thereon, Menezes failed to pay the correct amount of taxes which resulted in the deprivation of taxes due to the government.

The estimated aggregate tax liabilities of Menezes amounted to P983,658.07 for deficiency income and percentage taxes covering taxable years 2007 to 2009, inclusive of surcharges and interests.