Philippines: Personal income tax reforms

January 13, 2015

The Tax Management Association of the Philippines (TMAP) has raised a concern to revamp the Personal Income tax threshold and tax brackets. To ensure secure revenue collection levels, TMAP has recommended a raise on Personal Income Tax (PIT) exempt

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Philippines: Reduces the corporate income tax rate

September 27, 2014

The Chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means filed House Bill 4829 looking for to reduce the corporate income tax (CIT) rate from 30% to 25%. The same bill also includes a proposal to increase the minimum corporate income tax (MCIT) rate

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Philippines: BIR strengthens control over large taxpayers

July 21, 2014

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has strengthened its monitoring of the country’s large taxpayers, particularly on the value-added tax (VAT). BIR’s collections of first half of this year reached PHP643.2bn (USD14.8bn), which is more than

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Philippines- to issue Advance Pricing Agreement (“APA”) procedures

June 03, 2014

First APA procedures to be released by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (“BIR”) in the Philippines. In order to meet the criteria for tax collection targets, the BIR is making considerable resources available in order to develop transfer pricing

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Philippines May Exempt Humanitarian Relief from VAT

April 27, 2014

Bill 4054 in the Philippines would provide for a VAT exemption for medical and educational goods that are imported into the country as a result of donations from abroad, and would also introduce a similar VAT exemption for goods donated from abroad

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Treaty between Iraq and Philippines authorization for signature by Iraq

April 25, 2014

On 22 April 2014, Iraq authorized the Minister of Finance to commence negotiations for the conclusion of a double tax treaty with the

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Philippines Legislates To Cut Back Income Tax Relief

March 27, 2014

In the Philippines there is some concern in the Department of Finance (DOF) that tax relief is being granted to applicants without sufficient consideration of their entitlement. The Department is therefore keen for legislation to be passed to

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Philippines achieves Higher Tax Ratio In 2013

March 23, 2014

The fiscal deficit in the Philippines decreased in 2013 as there was a rise in the tax to GDP ratio in that year. The ratio of tax to GDP increased by 0.4 percent as compared to the previous year and reached a ratio of

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Philippines improves tax collection from large businesses

March 16, 2014

The Large Taxpayers Service (LTS) of the Philippines' Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has begun the 2014 tax season by praising corporate taxpayers for their contribution to the growth in collected revenue. In 2013 the LTS improved its 2013 revenue

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Treaty between Philippines and Nigeria

March 09, 2014

The 1997 double taxation treaty between the Philippines and Nigeria entered into force on 18 August 2013 and applies as from 1 January 2014. A 12.5% maximum withholding tax applies to dividends paid to a company (other than a partnership) that holds

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Treaty between Philippines and Kuwait

March 09, 2014

The 2009 double taxation treaty between the Philippines and Kuwait entered into force on 22 April 2013 and applies as from 1 January 2014. A 10% maximum withholding tax applies to dividends paid to a company (other than a partnership) that holds

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Philippines: Congress to prioritize bill raising tax exemption cap on 13th-month pay

March 09, 2014

Despite objection from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), Congress will prioritize the passage of the bill raising the tax exemption cap on 13th-month pay, Christmas bonus and other work benefits. Congress leaders have agreed to give "urgent

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Philippines: Importers Require Tax Authority Accreditation

February 23, 2014

The Philippines' Department of Finance has issued a department order requiring all importers to be accredited by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) before they can obtain an import permit from the Bureau of Customs (BOC). This measures aims to

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Philippines Business Requests Elimination of Aviation Fuel Tax

February 19, 2014

The Joint Foreign Chambers of the Philippines (JFC) have requested that the Government cuts the excise tax on aviation fuel for international carriers, after a Supreme Court (SC) decision to cancel refunds had effectively imposed higher taxation. In

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Philippines: Stock Exchange Presses For Tax Reform on REITs

February 18, 2014

The Philippines Stock Exchanges (PSE) will attempt to persuade the Government to loosen up regulations, most importantly the tax rules that apply to real-estate investment trusts. The tax rules in relation to real-estate investment trusts (REITs)

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Philippine: Welcome ejection from Italian ‘Black List’

December 11, 2013

The Philippines Government has signed a double taxation agreement (DTA) with Italy to taken off the “black list” of countries that Italy evaluates to be tax havens on 9 December  2013. On December 5, 1980 DTA originally signed between

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Philippines: Tax Exemptions for Haiyan Relief Goods

December 10, 2013

The Commissioner of the Bureau of Internal Revenue of Philippines has ensured that foreign donations and relief goods arriving for the victims of the Haiyan super typhoon in the Philippines will not be taxed, if their arrival is correlated with

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Signing of Protocol to DTA between Philippines and Italy

December 10, 2013

The Government of the Philippines confirmed on December 9, 2013 regarding the signing of a Protocol to the double taxation agreement (DTA) with

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