Voice of Liberia has officially written the 55th House of Representatives; over allegations of tax evasion involving Mano Manufacturing Company.

In a communication addressed to the Houses’ Committee Chair on Public Accounts—Hon. Clarence G. Gahr, VoL indicated that it has investigated and obtained credible information reportedly linking the Mano Manufacturing Company; with Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) 500135098 located in Tweh Farm, Bushrod Island to an alleged practice of widespread tax evasion which has grossly undermined government’s revenue generation.

According to the station, during its independent investigation, it established how the company in January 2021 declared US$1,273,185 as the total goods on hand, thereby bringing an additional amount of US$9,702,897.75 worth of goods during the same year; thereby bringing the total goods on hand in 2021 to US$10,976,082.80.

“Of the over US$10 million goods on hand, documents in our possession indicates that the company informed the LRA that she sold US$6,252,674.76 worth of goods with a variance of US$4,723,408 worth of goods unsold,” VoL noted in its communication.

Meanwhile, VoL informed the House that in 2022 instead of the remaining goods of US$4,723,408 which should have been the brought forward to 2022, Mano reported US$15,567,641 worth of goods which means her beginning goods was overstated by US$10,844,233.

Considering the US$15M plus goods as beginning goods in 2022, Mano again purchased US$9,151,486 goods in 2022 making her total goods on hand for the year at US$24,719,127.

“Interestingly, of the more than US$24M goods on hand, Mano said that she sold US$6,036,040 with remaining goods of US$18,683,087.
WHY IS MANO BUYING MORE GOODS AND DECLARING LOW SALES WITH HER ENDING GOODS INCREASING AT AN INCREASING RATE (271% & 295.54%?).
“Hon. Lawmaker; our investigation further uncovered that the above-mentioned company has never been in compliance with the payment of her advance taxes in proportion to her annual sales declaration.”

Again, Mano in 2021 declared per her quarterly advance tax payments of US$9,085.36, US$11,671.71, US$11,651.98 and US$11,116.99 for first, second, third and fourth respectively.

The total payments amounted to US$43,525.94 which indicates that her sales should be US$2,176,297. Her annual tax returns of 2021 declared a sale of US$7,560,005.14 instead of the US$2,176,297 for the purposes of paying less advance tax because the advance taxes due on the US$7,560,005.14 was US$151,200.10, which she did not pay but rather paid US$43,525.94 (less than 30%) of the actual amount due.

In 2022, Mano also paid an advance tax of US$48,077.54 (less than 26%) instead of US$192,587.96. Her own self declaration of sales for 2021 and 2022 indicates that her advance taxes should have been US$343,788.06 but Mano Manufacturing Company paid US$91,603.48 which is about 26.64%.

In addition, we also found out that Mano Manufacturing Company has an exemption on importation of raw materials for the purpose of manufacturing here in Liberia and later pay the domestic goods tax and or excise taxes.

Sadly, Mano imported finished oil from a Company in Guinea that she normally sends her palm oil to for manufacturing without paying the duties due in the name of the exemption that should cover only raw materials and not finished goods like the oil.

She imported US$3,214,454.54 of oil only excluding duties of US$31,264.44 that was not paid in 2021 and US$4,208,039.88 oil only excluding duties of US$84,160.89 that was not paid in 2022.
Honorable Committee Chair, we have all of the evidence such as her last importation of oil in 2021 and 2022 are August 17, 2021 US$554,400 and June 20, 2022 US$585,825.95 among others to prove the allegations against the company.

“In view of the above and as a way to help the government, especially the Legislature, mainly your committee exercise its oversight responsibility, we appealed to your committee to launch an independent investigation into the matter and ensure the right thing is done in the interest of the country.
While we are willing to assist in the event of documentation to prove these claims, we strongly believe that the tougher investigation will establish and expose those who are in partnership with the company to defraud the government,” VoL said in its communication.