BIR Ruling

October 21, 1975 Mr. Alfonso B. Dingayan Director, Grains Economics National Grains Authority Q. C. D. B. Bldg., 1424 Quezon Blvd. Ext. Quezon City S i r : In reply to your letter dated October 17, 1975, I have the honor to inform you that your request for information regarding the financial statements submitted to this Office by different transportation firms cannot be granted, in view of the prohibition contained in Section 347 of the Tax Code, which provide: "SEC. 347. Unlawful divulgence of trade secrets . Except as provided in Section 81 of this Code and Section 26 of Republic Act Numbered Six Thousand Three Hundred Eighty-Eight, any officer or employee of the Bureau of Internal Revenue who divulges to any person or makes known in any other manner than may be provided by the law information regarding the business, income, or inheritance of any taxpayer, the secrets, operation, style of work, or apparatus of any manufacturer or producer, or confidential information regarding the business of any taxpayer, knowledge of which was acquired by him in the discharge of his official duties, shall be fined in a sum of not more than two thousand pesos or imprisoned for a term of not less than six months nor more than five years, or both." However, this Office may give the information only upon order of the President of the Philippines, pursuant to Section 81 of the Tax Code. Very truly yours, (SGD.) EFREN I. PLANA Acting Commissioner of Internal Revenue TAN-1456-040-3