Philippines: BIR shuts down POGO operator Imperial Choice

Imperial Choice Limited (Imperial) and its accredited service provider Aplus Accel, Inc. (Aplus) were shut down by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) for failure to register with the tax agency.

The Philippines.- The Philippine’s Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has closed POGO Imperial Choice and its service provider Aplus Accel because it failed to register with the tax agency.

According to Article 236 of the Tax Law and the newly promulgated POGO law, registration is required.

BIR Deputy Commissioner for Operations Group, Arnel SD. Guballa, stated: “Their business operations will remain suspended and business establishments temporarily closed until the Bureau’s registration requirements and other pertinent tax regulations are complied with and the corresponding deficiency taxes and penalties are paid.”

He then added: “We will continue to strictly enforce the tax laws and raise the much-needed revenues for the government especially during this pandemic.”

Last February, POGOs were ordered to register for the electronic reporting system managed by the AMLC. The decision followed an amendment to the Philippines’ Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2001 that includes real estate developers and brokers, and offshore gaming operators under the Act.

Since September 2021, POGOs have to pay 5 per cent on gross gaming revenue under a new law signed by President Rodrigo Duterte.

The bill also states that foreigners employed in online casinos and their service providers must pay a 25 per cent income tax.