Philippines Makes Doing Business Easier In Starting A Business

Did you know that you can now start your business easier in the Philippines with the simplified 6 steps of about 8 days? Paying Taxes (Social Service Contributions / Payments) reduce to 13 payments from 36.

Starting a business is now simple due to reforms that organized steps and the cooperation of the government agencies.

Please check the diagram below: (http://www.bir.gov.ph/images/bir_files/internal_communications_1/Posters/00.%20MOA%20Signing%20poster%20Edit8.jpg)

This project was made possible by different government agencies above stated. In fact, the implementation of this project will be successful with the cooperation of both the taxpayers, investors and government agencies.

Presentation of Tax Exemption Certificate or Ruling by Exempt Individuals and Entities

Revenue Memorandum Circular (RMC) No. 8-2014 was issued by the bureau with regards to the presentation of Tax Exemption Certificate or Ruling by Exempt Individuals and Entities.

 

The BIR cited that under the provisions of existing tax laws and administrative issuances, however, some individuals, entities and transactions are considered exempt from imposition of taxes on income and, consequently, from withholding taxes.

 

With this, the concerned withholding agents, the RMC require all individuals and entities claiming such exemption to provide a copy of a valid, current and subsisting tax exemption certificate or ruling, as  per existing administrative issuances and any issuance that may be issued from time to time, before payment of the related income. The tax exemption certificate or ruling must explicitly recognize the grant of tax exemption, as well as the corresponding exemption from imposition of withholding tax.

 

Failure on the part of the taxpayer to present the said tax exemption certificate or ruling herein required shall subject him to the payment of appropriate withholding taxes due on the transaction. On the other hand, the withholding agent's failure to withhold notwithstanding the lack of tax exemption certificate or ruling shall cause the imposition of penalties under Section 251 and other pertinent Sections of the Tax Code.

 

Pursuant to Sections 57 to 59 and Sections 78 to 83 of the Tax Code, in relation to Revenue Regulations (RR) No. 02-1998, as amended, certain items of income are made subject to the payment of withholding taxes (final tax, creditable/expanded withholding tax, withholding tax on compensation) at the rates prescribed therein.

 

It was also mentioned that the Circular revokes all other circulars or issuances inconsistent with it

 

Please refer http://www.bir.gov.ph/images/bir_files/old_files/pdf/82437RMC%20No%208-2014.pdf of the full text RMC No. 8-2014.

Who Else Wants To Avoid Tax Penalties?

Most taxpayers wants to avoid in paying tax penalties with the bureau. In fact, this burden can be avoided by any type or classification of taxpayers by paying the right taxes on time and doing or following the tax obligations with diligence as required by revenue regulations, national internal revenue code and other tax laws.

As a taxpayer, to avoid this tax burdens, I usually keep myself updated with the revenue regulations, national internal revenue code and other tax laws. Tax planning and compliance are one of the measures in avoiding tax penalties. Mastery of these revenue regulations and national internal revenue code can truly help us taxpayers in avoiding tax penalties. 

Businessmen and entrepreneurs usually hires good tax consultants with regards to tax planning, compliance reporting and other services. 

For me, quality service begins with wisdom, perseverance, actions and compliance.    

Offline eBIRForms Package v5.2

The bureau has issued a new version of eBIRForms Package, the Offline eBIRForms Package v5.2 and you can download in the following site(s):

1. http://ftp.pregi.net/bir/ebirforms_package_v5.2.zip

The Electronic Bureau of Internal Revenue Forms (eBIRForms) was developed primarily to provide taxpayers with an alternative mode of preparing and filing tax returns that is easier and more convenient.

The Offline eBIRForms Package is a tax preparation software that allows taxpayers and ATAs to accomplish or fill up tax forms offline. Instead of the conventional manual process of filling up tax returns on pre-printed forms that is highly susceptible to human error, taxpayers/ATAs can directly encode data, validate, edit, save, delete, view, print and submit their tax returns. The package can do automatic computations and has the capability to validate information encoded by taxpayers/ATAs. After filling out the forms in this package, taxpayers/ATAs can submit it to the Online eBIRForms System.

The eBIRForms is a package application covering thirty-six (36) BIR Forms comprised of Income Tax Returns; Excise Tax Forms; VAT Forms; Withholding Tax Forms; Documentary Stamp Tax Forms; Percentage Tax Forms; ONETT Forms and Payment Form.

Updates: http://philippinetaxtalk.blogspot.com/2016/05/ebirforms-package-v61-new-is-now.html


To download the Offline eBIRForms Package v6.1, just click the following link:

http://ftp.pregi.net/bir/ebirforms_package_v6.1.zip

Income Payments On Sugar

Revenue Regulations No. 13-2015 has issued by the CIR of the BIR amending further the provisions of Section 2.57.2 of Revenue Regulations (RR) No. 2-98, as Amended by RR No. 7-2015 dated October 12, 2015.

 

The amendments is stated in the RR with details as follows:

 

SEC. 2. AMENDMENTS. - The pertinent provisions of Section 2.57.2 of RR No. 2-98, as amended by RR No. 7-2015, are hereby further amended to read as follows:

 

"(AA) Income payments on sugar. - On gross payments on purchases of sugar - One percent (1%)

 

1. Proprietors or operators of sugar mills/refineries on their mill share, xxx:

 

1.1 For locally produced raw cane sugar and raw sugar - the composite price, in metric tons, governing the specified crop year of raw cane sugar and raw sugar as reflected in one of the reports (Annex "A") under the weekly Final Sugar Production Bulletin duly issued by the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) on the date of sale, or actual selling price, whichever is higher.

 

It shall be ensured that a copy of the weekly Final Sugar Production Bulletin be officially transmitted by the SRA to the Commissioner of Internal Revenue within twenty four (24) hours from the date of issuance thereof.

 

          XXX          XXX          XXX

 

All existing rules and regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of these Regulations are hereby modified, amended, revoked or repealed accordingly.

 

The Regulations took effect fifteen (15) days immediately following publication in a newspaper of general circulation.

 

Please refer http://www.bir.gov.ph/images/bir_files/internal_communications_1/Full%20Text%20RR%202015/RR%20No.%2013-2015.pdf of the full text of RR No. 13-2015.

 

Tax Treatment of Certain Persons Engaged in the Business of Land Transportation

Revenue Memorandum Circular No. 70-2015 has recently issued by the bureau to reiterate the Tax Treatment of Certain Persons Engaged in the Business of Land Transportation.

This Circular deals with the tax incidence of the business of land transportation, specifically transport network companies (TNCs), such as but not limited to the likes of UBER, GRAB TAXI, their Partners/suppliers and similar arrangements. A TNC is a pool of land transportation vehicles whose accessibility to the riding public is facilitated through the use of a common point of contract which maybe in the form of text, telephone and/or cellular calls, email, mobile applications or by other means.

The TNC may or may not have been granted a Certificate of Public Convenience (CPC). If it is a holder of a valid and current CPC, it is known as a common carrier and its gross receipts are subject to the Three Percent (3%) common carriers tax under Section 117 of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997 as amended (NIRC). Otherwise, it is classified as a land transportation service contractor and is subject to the Twelve Percent (12%) Value Added Tax (VAT) under the NIRC.

Please refer http://www.bir.gov.ph/images/bir_files/internal_communications_2/RMC%20No%2070-2015.pdf of the full text of RMC No. 70-2015.

Extension In Procuring, Reconfiguring Machines And Sytems Of The Use of Non-thermal Paper For All CRMs, POS Machines And Other Invoice/Receipt Generating Machine/Software

The CIR of the bureau has issued Revenue Regulations No. 12-2015 to amend Section 8 of RR No. 10-2015 as follows:

 

SECTION 2. AMENDMENT. Section 8 of RR No. 10-2015, is hereby amended to be read as follows:

 

"XXX          XXX         XXX

 

SECTION 8. TRANSITORY PROVISIONS. - In order to provide ample time in procuring, reconfiguring machines and systems, to comply with Section 5, adjustments shall be undertaken on or before October 31, 2015. Any extension due to enhancements of systems required to be undertaken abroad shall seek the approval from the concerned Regional Director or ACIR, Large Taxpayer Service which shall not longer than six (6) months from the effectivity of these Regulations.

 

XXX         XXX         XXX"

 

The provisions of these Regulations was took effect immediately last September 29, 2015.

 

Please refer http://www.bir.gov.ph/images/bir_files/internal_communications_1/Full%20Text%20RR%202015/RR%20No.%2012-2015.pdf of the full text of Revenue Regulations No. 12-2015. 

Requisites For The Valid Claim Of Input Tax Credit By VAT-Registered Taxpayer Of The Receipts/Invoices Generated From CRM/POS Machines

Revenue Memorandum Circular (RMC) No. 64-2015 has recently issued by the CIR of the bureau to reiterate the information requirements that must be shown on receipts/invoices/other commercial invoices generated from CRM/POS/software pursuant to Revenue Regulations (RR) No. 10-2015 and RR No. 11-2004, in relation to RR No. 16-2005 regarding the Value-Added Tax (VAT) receipts/invoices.

 

Pursuant to Section 113(B) of the Tax Code, as amended and Sec. 4.113-1 (B) of RR No. 16-2005, the following information of purchases, customer or client must be indicated on the VAT receipts/invoices, in the case of sales amounting to One thousand pesos (P1,000.00) or more and the sale is made to a VAT-registered person:

 

1. Name of purchaser, customer or client;

2. Address;

3. Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN); and

4. Business style, if any.

 

If the CRM/POS is not capable of showing the said requirements, a manually pre-printed receipts/invoices with approved Authority to Print (ATP) must be issued to the purchaser, customer or client based on the existing provisions of the Bureau.

 

Any purchase of goods/services with receipts/invoices generated from CRM/POS/software are mandated to show the said requisites for the valid claim of input tax credit by VAT-registered taxpayer, as provided by Section 4-110-8 of RR No. 16-2005 and in reference to Section 113 and 237 of the Tax Code.

 

Please refer http://www.bir.gov.ph/images/bir_files/internal_communications_2/RMC%2064-2015.pdf of the full text of the RMC No. 64-2015.

Amendment on Section Of RR No. 10-2015, Also Known As The Use of Non-thermal Paper For All CRMs, POS Machines And Other Invoice/Receipt Generating Machine/Software

Revenue Regulations (RR) No. 12-2015 has recently issued by the CIR of the BIR for the amendment of Section 8  of RR No. 10-2015 with details as follows:

 

SECTION 2. AMENDMENT. Section 8 of RR No. 10-2015, is hereby amended to be read as follows:

 

"XXX     XXX     XXX

 

SECTION 8. TRANSITORY PROVISIONS. - In order to provide ample time in procuring, reconfiguring machines and systems, to comply with Section 5, adjustments shall be undertaken on or before October 31, 2015. Any extension due to enhancements of systems required to be undertaken abroad shall seek the approval from the concerned Regional Director or ACIR, Large Taxpayer Service which shall not be longer than six (6) months from the effectivity of these Regulations.

 

XXX     XXX     XXX"

 

SECTION 3. EFFECTIVITY. The provisions of these Regulations shall take effect immediately.

 

Please refer: http://www.bir.gov.ph/images/bir_files/internal_communications_1/Full%20Text%20RR%202015/RR%20No.%2012-2015.pdf of the full text of RR No. 12-2015.

Identification Document or Proof Of Being A Senior Citizen Which May Be Used For The Availment Of Benefits And Privileges

The CIR of the BIR just recently issued Revenue Regulations No. 11-2015, amending Sections 2 and 7(6) of Revenue Regulations (RR) No. 07-2010, as Amended by RR No. 08-2010 as follows:

 

"Section 2. Definitions. - For purposes of these Regulations, the following terms and phrases shall be defined as follows:

 

XXX          XXX          XXX

 

n. Identification Document - any document or proof of being a senior citizen which may be used for the availment of benefits and privileges under these Rules. It shall be any of the following:

 

i. Senior Citizens' Identification Card issued by the Office of Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) in the city or municipality where the elderly resides:

 

ii. The Philippine passport of the elderly person or senior citizen concerned; and

 

iii. Government-issued identification card (ID) which reflects on its face the name, picture, date of birth and nationality of the senior citizen which includes any of the following:

 

1) Digitized Social Security System ID

2) Government Service Insurance System ID

3) Professional Regulation Commission ID

4) Integrated Bar of the Philippines ID

5) Unified Multi-Purpose ID (UMID)

6) Driver's License"

 

Please refer http://www.bir.gov.ph/images/bir_files/internal_communications_1/Full%20Text%20RR%202015/RR%20No.%2011-2015.pdf for the Tax Treatment of the Discount Granted to Senior Citizens and full text of RR No. 11-2015.