Judy Ann cleared from tax evasion charges

Actress-TV host Judy Ann Santos feels like winning an award after being absolved from the tax evasion case filed by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).

In a TV Patrol report on Wednesday, January 16, the Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) cleared Judy Ann from the P2.7 million tax evasion charges, saying that she only under-declared her income.

“Thankful ako na maganda ang bungad ng taon sa akin, daig pa ang Best Actress Award. I can finally move on with my life. It’s an answered prayer. First of all, nabigyan ko ng peace of mind ang nanay ko,” Judy Ann said in a phone interview on TV Patrol.

Judy Ann is ordered to pay “P3,418,034.78 representing income tax deficiency for the taxable year 2002” plus 20% delinquency interest for every year.

“Naiintindihan ko. Wala naman po akong planong takasan ang kahit anong gustong pabayaran sa akin. Wala pong kasing katapat na presyo yung peace of mind, yung katahimikan ko at ng pamilya ko. Dasal ko na lang po talaga ngayon is sana matapos na talaga nang tuluyan,” she added.

According to TV Patrol, BIR questions CTA’s ruling.

“It has always been the BIR’s position that the tax code provides the presumption of fraud in cases of underdeclaration of 30 percent. Ms. Santos’ underdeclaration exceeds 100 percent and the defense never submitted any evidence to disprove such presumption,” BIR’s statement says.