BIR Ruling

December 9, 1971 Delegate Cicero D. Calderon 1971 Constitutional Convention Suite 202, Manila Hotel Manila S i r : This refers to your letter dated December 7, 1971 requesting that you be furnished with the annual net income of the following firms: l. The San Miguel Corporation, and similar concerns; 2. The U.S. Tobacco Corporation (now Quality Tobacco Corporation), and similar firms; and 3. The Jai Alai of the Philippines. In reply, I have the honor to inform you that your request cannot be granted in view of the prohibition provided for under Section 347 of the Tax Code, which states: "SEC. 347. Unlawful divulgence of trade secrets . Except as provided in section 81 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 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." casia Very truly yours, MISAEL P. VERA Commissioner of Internal Revenue