INC Leaders Face US Raps Over Tax Fraud

The Iglesia Ni Cristo saga continues as former minister Vincent Florida reported the Church leaders (Eduardo Manalo and Glicerio Santos Jr.), to the United States Internal Revenue Service (IRS) over an alleged tax fraud, as reported in the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

American Vincent Florida , a 65-year olf former minister stepped down from his duty on July 30 after a series of scandal inside the controversial religious group broke-out. Florida told the Inquirer that he filed his report, in IRS form 3949A, for failure to pay taxes in August this year. As of press time, the IRS has not yet opened an investigation.

IRS form 3949A is used for reporting suspected tax fraud, including false exemptions or deductions, kickbacks, false or altered document, failure to pay tax, unreported income and organized crime.

Florida also added that only checks were deposited to the bank and not the cash offerings. He said that most donations were converted to $100 bills and then remitted to Glicerio Santos Jr four times a year.

He added that the funds are being transported through the church’s private jet without going through US inspections.

Meanwhile, many members of INC in different California congregations held coordinated protests on November 22 outside their respective churches.

Members, both active and expelled gathered to protest against corruption, illegal detention, and the dismissal of Bro. Isaias Samson’s case against the INC council.

The protest actions were held during the INC Sunday morning services.

Tax fraud and money laundering cases are very serious charges in the United States, and the respondents could pay a hefty penalty, or go to prison if convicted.

Source: Inquirer, video credit ABS-CBN – Ricky Salcedo

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