- GMA Network and Inquirer executives face tax evasion cases.
- BIR filed tax evasion cases against Felipe Gozon and Paolo Prieto.
The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has filed complaints of tax evasion against GMA Network’s Felipe Gozon and Inquirer.net’s Paolo Prieto.
On Thursday, October 3, the tax bureau slapped the two with a 23-million peso tax case over the tax deficiency of the now defunct INQ7 Interactive Inc. for the taxable year of 2006.
The complaint was filed with DOJ for violation of Section 255 of the Tax Code or failure to file return, supply correct and accurate information, pay tax, withhold and remit tax, and refund excess taxes withheld on compensation.
“Together with its responsible corporate officer, INQ7 is being sued for a total tax liability for taxable year 2006 amounting to P23,479,467 inclusive of increments,” said BIR.
“The respondents’ obstinate failure and continued refusal to pay their long overdue deficiency taxes, despite repeated demands, constitute willful failure to pay the taxes due to the government,” BIR added.
INQ7 Interactive was a partnership between GMA Network and Inquirer which previously managed the website INQ7.net until they created separate online news websites.
Gozon served as its Chairperson while Prieto was its former President.
Aside from INQ7 other companies that were also charged with the same tax evasion cases by the BIR were:
- Ski Construction Group
- Prestige Cars Makati
- Lucky Charm Pub & Restaurant Corp
- Underground Logic Inc
- JP Med Asian Pacific Inc
- Information Products Corp
- Tridem Asia Publishing Inc
- Integrated Dynamic Service Inc
- Calcarries International Inc
- Eurobrokers International Inc
Meanwhile, GMA Network answered the BIR complaint against Atty. Felipe Gozon via an official statement:
“Atty. Gozon has yet to receive a copy of the complaint. He is ready to answer whatever charges as soon as he receives it.
As Chairman of INQ7, he only presided the meetings of the Board and had no involvement or participation in the operations of the company. Gozon resigned from INQ7 in 2017.”
