RMC No. 55-2025 — Clarifying Section 24 of Republic Act No. 12214, entitled "An Act Amending Section 22, 24, 25, 27, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 42, 51, 52, 56, 57, 127, 149, 174, 176, 179, 190, 199, and 258 of Republic Act No. 8424, Otherwise Known as the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as Amended, and for Other Purposes"

BUREAU OF INTERNAL REVENUE REPUBLICOF THE PHILIPPINES DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE

Bringing In Revenues for Nation-Building National Office Building Quezon City 1 0 jUN~2025 PILIRINAS BAGONG

REVENUE MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 0 5 5 - 2 0 2 5

SUBJECT:Clarifying Section 24 of Republic Act No. 12214, entitled "AN ACT AMENDING SECTION 22,24,25,27,28,32,34,38,39,42,51,52,56,

57, 127, 149, 174, 176,179, 190, 199, AND 258 OF REPUBLICT ACT NO. 8424, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE NATIONAL INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1997, AS AMENDED, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES"

TO: All Internal Revenue Officials, Employees and Others Concerned

Pursuant to Section 24 of Republic Act (RA) No. 12214. otherwise known as the

Revenue Code of 1997, as amended (Tax Code), is further amended to read as follows: Capital Markets Efficiency Promotion Act(CMEPA),Section 258 of the National Internal

"SEC.24. Section 258 of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997 as amended, is hereby further amended to read as follows:

SEC. 258. Unlawful Pursuit of Business. - Any person who carries on any business without registering the

BUREAU OFINTERNALREVENUE MANAGEMENT DIVISION fine of not less than Five thousand pesos (P5,000) but not more than Twenty thousand pesos (P20,000) and same in accordance with Section 236 shall, upon conviction for each act or omission, be punished by a

imprisonment of not less than six (6) months but not

8 JUN 10 2025 ADMINUNIT-1 TIME: 10:2S subject to excise tax, he shall, upon conviction for each more than two 2)years:Provided, That in the case of a person engaged in the business of distilling, rectifying. repacking, compounding, or manufacturing any article act or omission, be punished by a fine of not less than Thirty thousand pesos (P30,000) but not more than Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000) and imprisonment. of not less

than two (2) years but not more than four (4) years. (Underscoring supplied)

not more than two (2) years. the Tax Code shall, upon conviction for each act or omission, be punished by a fine of not less registering the same with the Bureau of Internal Revenue in accordance with Section 236 of than P5,000 but not more than P20,000, and imprisonment of not less than six (6) months but Based on the above amendment, any person who carries on any business without

BIR National Office Bldg., Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago Avenue,Diliman, Quezon City Trunkline: 8981-7000 ; 8929-7676 Website:www.bir.gov.ph

In the case of a person engaged in the business of distilling, rectifying, repacking compounding, or manufacturing any article subject to excise tax, the penalty shall be a fine of not less than P30,000 but not more than P50,000, and imprisonment of not less than two (2 years but not more than four (4) years.

failure to register a business, not to the non-payment of the P500.00 annual registration fee. Unlawful Pursuit of Business and its penalty under Section 258 of the Tax Code applies to The recent amendment not only clarifies but firmly reinforces that the crime of

which has already been repealed under RA No.11976(Ease of Paying Taxes Act)

as wide a publicity as possible. All internal revenue officials and employees are hereby enjoined to give this Circular

ROMFO D.LUMAGUI,JR Commssioner of Internal Revenue

UREAUOFINTERNALREVENUE GEMENT DIVISION

JUN 1 0 2025

Q ADMINUNIT- TIME: 10:20

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