By Lawrence Agcaoili

The Bureau of Internal Revenue yesterday vowed to close down business establishments found remiss in the payment of taxes as part of the government?s heightened campaign against tax evaders.

BIR Commissioner Sixto Esquivias IV said the agency was launching ?Oplan Kandado,? in which business establishments found violating the National Internal Revenue Code would be padlocked.

?We will be closing establishments found remiss in the payment of their tax obligations,? said Esquivias.

He said the BIR was empowered to suspend business operations of establishments that fail to remit the correct amount of tax to the national government.

The BIR chief said the agency would not hesitate to shut down business establishments that fail to issue official receipts and those that under-declare their sales by more than 30 percent.

He added that the agency would also padlock business establishments not registered with the BIR.

He said there was a need for the government?s major revenue-generating agency to strictly implement the law when it comes to the correct payment of taxes.

?The BIR should show its capability. It has been done before,? he said.

Esquivias, who assumed office in November replacing resigned BIR chief Lilian Hefti, said the agency missed its collection goal last year. He did not give any figure.