Government Corruption

SC upholds Semirara tax exemption on fuel imports, government refunds P27M

The Supreme Court upheld tax-exempt status for Semirara Mining and Power Corp. on fuel imports, ordering the government to refund approximately P27 million in taxes based on incentives granted under the Coal Development Act of 1976. The ruling contradicts the Bureau of Internal Revenue's 2013 assessment that attempted to impose value-added tax on diesel imports, raising concerns about whether tax incentives undermine government revenue collection and fiscal accountability.