DOE Tightens Watch on Gas Stations, Depots; Deploys Inspectors

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A team of inspectors from the Department of Energy's Oil Industry Management Bureau (OIMB) has been deployed to randomly inspect the inventory of gasoline stations and depots for proper oil excise tax implementation.

The inspectors will verify if the excise tax under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Act is actually applied on inventories beyond those existing as of December 31, 2017.

Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi reiterated his warning against any violation of the TRAIN law.

"Violators may be administratively subjected to the cancellation of their Certificates of Compliance (COC)," said Cusi.

Criminal cases such as estafa and profiteering may be filed in court for violations of the Oil Deregulation Law and the Revised Penal Code, Cusi said.

"The DOE will also endorse these violators to the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) for a special audit," he added.

Cusi said the inspection procedure starts with inspectors introducing themselves to gasoline station or depots and informing their purpose, which is to inspect the inventory.

Inspectors will use the Inspection Report Form (IRF), which indicates punitive measures in case of violation.

Inspectors will get the data on the inventory as of Dec. 31, 2017 and subsequent withdrawals from those inventories to determine if the new excise tax under TRAIN is applied only to new stocks.

Upon accomplishment of the IRF, it should be signed by the OIMB Inspector and conformed by the authorized representative of the retail station or depot.

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