BIR goes after Korean TV host Ryan Bang

Ryan Bang. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

The growing popularity of television personality and South Korean national Ryan Bang made tax officials “curious” about his financial state and whether he was paying taxes, according to Internal Revenue Commissioner Kim Henares.

After only a “cursory check,” the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) discovered that Bang was delinquent in paying taxes and thereafter sent him an official notice.

On Thursday, the BIR filed before the Department of Justice (DOJ) a tax evasion complaint against him for not paying taxes for 2010 and 2011 amounting to P1.82 million.

Bang, whose complete name is Hyun Sung Bang, is one of the hosts of the noontime show “It’s Showtime” at ABS-CBN. He had been in the television scene since 2010 when he was featured and eventually became a finalist of the reality show “Pinoy Big Brother: Teen Clash of 2010.”

“If you earn an income in the country, you have to pay taxes,” Henares said at a news briefing at the DOJ.

She added, “Your revenues can be easily seen when you are a celebrity. You should be models for the citizens and follow the law.”

Bang, who has a permit to work here, had registered with the BIR but “failed to register each type of internal revenue tax for which he is obligated,” according to the BIR.

He did not file his income tax, percentage tax and value added tax returns and failed to pay the corresponding taxes due for 2010 and 2011, the BIR claimed.

A check showed companies like ABS-CBN Corp., KP & PR & EM, Inc., Summit Publishing Company Inc., and Studio 23 Inc. engaged Bang’s services in 2011, with ABS-CBN paying him P852,274.00.

In 2011, he received P2.06 million from ABS-CBN Corp., ABS-CBN Film Production Inc., and Studio 23 Inc.

BIR said it was suing Bang for a total tax liability amounting to P1.82 million, which include surcharges and interests. Christine O. Avendaño