The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) is closing down at least 52 businesses in and around Davao City due to under-declaration and non-payment of taxes.

This week 14 Jaltan Enterprises around the city were shut down due to a 20-million peso tax obligation, of which they only paid four million. A notice was sent to Jaltan on April 17 to comply within five days but the company failed to adhere to the demands of the BIR and they shut the businesses down.

The 52-plus businesses being closed include establishments in Digos City, Mati City and Tagum City.

BIR officials say they served Jaltan along CM Recto and Bonifacio Streets first. BIR then took it upon themselves to close the City Hall and LTO establishments as well as all the Jaltan’s at local outlet malls.

The owners of Jaltan’s have said they will settle their accounts soon, the company bookkeeper refused to give a statement on the matter.

BIR aims to intensify and enforce establishments who fail to comply with the tax code. Various businesses throughout Davao del Sur and Davao Oriental will be subject to closing if they fail to comply to the five-day order to pay up or be shut-up.