You are on page 1of 10

TAX REMEDIES

Tax Remedies speak of three (3) kinds, namely:

1. Remedies in General
2. Remedies of the government; and
3. Remedies of the Taxpayer.

I. REMEDIES IN GENERAL

The COMMISSIONER has the power to:

1. COMPROMISE payment of ANY When: Recommendation/Final Report on the


Internal Revenue Tax. 1. A Reasonable Doubt as to the validity of application for Compromise shall be
the claim against the Taxpayer. signed/approved by:
(A compromise is an agreement 2. Inability of the Taxpayer to pay assessed
whereby the parties, by making tax. 1. Concerned Regional Evaluation
reciprocal concessions, avoid Board (REB).
litigation or put an end to one The Compromise settlement of any tax liability a. Regional Office cases involving
already commenced (ART. 2208, shall be subject to the following minimum basic tax assessment of P500,000
CIVIL CODE) amounts: or less;
a. For cases of financial incapacity, a b. Minor criminal violations discovered
minimum compromise of 10% of the basic by regional and district already
assessed tax; and delegated to REB.

b. For other cases, minimum compromise 2. CIR


rate is 40% of the basic assessed tax. a. Other cases w/c were not delegated
b. Cases which, by law, have been
entrusted to the CIR

3. National Evaluation Board


a. Basic Tax exceeds P1,000,000
b. Where settlement offered is less
than the prescribed minimum
compromise settlement amount
(10% for cases of financial
incapacity and 40% for cases of
doubtful validity of the assessment.
2. ABATE or CANCEL a Tax Liability When: The RDO/investigating offices having
1. The tax or portion thereof appears to be jurisdiction over the taxpayer-applicant
(Abatement is a diminution or unjustly or excessively assessed; shall:
decrease in the amount of tax 1. Process the application for
imposed. To abate is to nullify or 2. The administration and collection costs Abatement.
reduce in value or amount; while to involved do not justify collection of the 2. Make necessary evaluation
cancel is to obliterate, cross-out, or amount due. 3. Prepare report containing
invalidate.) recommendation to the Technical
All criminal violations may be compromised Working Committee (TWC.)
Under the existing rules, the BIR EXCEPT:
processes applications for the a. Those already filed in court The TWC shall:
abatement of ONLY: b. Those involving Fraud 1. Review the report and
a. Surcharges recommendation.
b. Interests 2. Prepare the final recommendation
c. Compromise Penalties for the approval of the
Commissioner.
(Any application for the abatement of
the basic tax assessed or any portion The Commissioner shall approve the
thereof if any, is not covered by application.
existing rules and therefore shall not
be processed)

3. CREDIT or REFUND: 1. Taxes erroneously or illegally received. Requirements for Refund:


2. Penalties imposed without authority. (CIR vs. Acosta)
(Tax Credit is not specifically defined in 1. A written claim for refund or tax credit
our Tax Code, but Art. 21 of EO 226 A Tax Credit Certificate (TCC) validly issued may must be filed by the taxpayer with the
defines a tax credit as any of the be applied against any internal revenue tax, commissioner
credits against taxes and or duties EXCEPT Withholding taxes, for which the 2. The claim for refund must be a
equal to those actually paid or would taxpayer is directly liable. categorical demand for
have been paid to evidence which a reimbursement
Tax Credit Certificate (TCC) shall be A. Forfeiture of Refund 3. The claim for refund or tax credit must
issued by the SECRETARY OF A refund check or warrant issued which shall be filed, or the suit or proceeding
FINANCE or his representative, or the remain unclaimed or uncashed within five (5) therefor must be commenced in court
Board of Investments, is so delegated years from the date of the said warrant or within two (2) years from date of
by the Secretary of Finance.) check was mailed or delivered shall be payment of the tax or penalty
forfeited in favour of the Government and the regardless of any supervening cause.
In RR 5-2000, a tax credit is defined amount thereof shall revert to the general
as the amount due to a taxpayer fund. Goodwill and Patriotism Doctrine:
resulting from an overpayment of a tax In CIR v. PNB. An exception to the 2-yr
liability or erroneous payment of a tax B. Forfeiture of Tax Credit period was laid down by the high court.
due. A Tax Credit Certificate issued which shall
remain unutilized after five (5) years from the PNB remitted the P180 Million in question
date of issue, shall, unless revalidated, be as a measure of goodwill and patriotism to
considered invalid, and shall not be allowed help the cash-strapped national
as payment for internal revenue tax liabilities government; It would thus be unfair to leave
of the taxpayer, and the amount covered by respondent PNB to suffer losing millions of
the certificate shall revert to the general fund. pesos advanced by it for future tax
liabilities.
II. REMEDIES OF THE GOVERNMENT
1. ASSESSMENT Time of Assessment
An assessment contains: a. 3-year Period (General Rule)
a. Computation of tax liabilities 1. If the return was filed on or before the deadline for filing – within 3
b. A demand for payment within the prescribed years after the last prescribed by law
period. 2. If the return was filed beyond or after the deadline – within 3 years
from the date of such filing.
- It signals the time when penalties and interests begin b. 10-year period (Exception)
to accrue against. 1. For false or fraudulent return with intent to evade tax or failure to file a
- It must be served on and received by the taxpayer. return – at any time within ten (10) years after discovery of the falsity,
- An assessment is deemed made only when the fraud, or omission.
collector of internal revenue releases, mails or send
such notice to the taxpayer.

2. COLLECTION Administrative Procedure:


In Section 205 of the Code, it Under R.A. 1125, as amended by
A. Collection with Assessment: (Gen. Rule) provides: RA9282:
Any internal revenue taxes which has been Remedies for the collection of
assessed may be collected within five (5) years Delinquent Taxes. – Sec. 11 – NO APPEAL shall be taken to
following the assessment of the tax by: the Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) from the
1. Distraint The civil remedies for the decision of the Commissioner of Internal
2. Levy collection of internal revenue Revenue, on a disputed assessment that
3. Judicial Action taxes, fees or charges, and any shall suspend payment, levy distraint,
a. Civil increment thereto resulting from and or sale of any property of the
b. Criminal delinquency shall be: taxpayer for the satisfaction of his tax
liability, unless the CTA suspends the
B. Collection w/out assessment: (Exception) 1. By DISTRAINT of goods, collection under certain conditions.
In the case of a false or fraudulent return with chattels, or effects, and
intent to evade tax or failure to file a return, the tax other Personal property of Sec. 13 – Upon issuance of any ruling,
may be assessed, OR a proceeding in court after whatever character, order or decision of the CTA favorable to
the collection of such tax may be begun WITHOUT including stocks and other the national government, the CTA shall
assessment, at any time within ten (10) years securities, debts, credits, issue an order authorizing the BIR to
after the discovery of the falsity, fraud or bank accounts and interest seize and distraint any goods, chattels,
omission. Provided, that in fraud assessment in and rights to personal or effects, and other Personal property of
which has become final and executor, the fact of property. whatever character.
fraud shall be judicially taken cognizance of in the
civil or criminal action for collection thereof. 2. By LEVY upon Real Sec. 218 of the tax code – No court
Property and interest in (except CTA) shall have the authority to
rights to real property. grant an injunction to restrain the
collection of any national internal
revenue tax, fee or charge imposed by
said code.
III. REMEDIES OF THE TAXPAYER (Based on BIR REVENUE REGULATIONS NO. 18-2013)

Pre-Assessment Notice (PAN)

(15 days to file answer)

Final Assessment Notice (FAN)

(30 days)

PROTEST

(30 days)

Appeal to CTA Division

(15 days)

MR to CTA Division

(15 days)

Appeal to CTA En Banc

(15 days)

PETITION FOR REVIEW (SC)


Notice of Informal Conference (OMITTED) NOTE ON PAN: B. FINAL ASSESSMENT NOTICE (FAN)
BIR REVENUE REGULATIONS NO. 18-2013 The failure to strictly comply with the
amended Section 3 of RR 12-99 by deleting requirement of sending a PAN before a FAN is The Formal Letter of Demand and Final
Section 3.1.1 thereof which provides for the tantamount to DENIAL OF DUE PROCESS. Assessment Notice (FLD/FAN) shall be issued
preparation of a Notice of Informal Conference. by the Commissioner or his duly authorized
Conversely, the only instances wherein a PAN representative. The FLD/FAN calling for payment
A. Pre-Assessment Notice (PAN) shall NOT be required include the following of the taxpayer's deficiency tax or taxes shall
cases: state the facts, the law, rules and regulations, or
If after review and evaluation by the jurisprudence on which the assessment is
Commissioner or his duly authorized (a) When the finding for any deficiency tax based; otherwise, the assessment shall be void.
representative, as the case may be, it is is the result of mathematical error in the
determined that there exists sufficient basis to computation of the tax as appearing on Disputed Assessment. — The taxpayer or its
assess the taxpayer for any deficiency tax or the face of the return; or authorized representative or tax agent may
taxes, the said Office shall issue to the taxpayer (b) When a discrepancy has been protest administratively against the aforesaid
a Preliminary Assessment Notice (PAN) for the determined between the tax withheld FLD/FAN within thirty (30) days from date of
proposed assessment. It shall show in detail the and the amount actually remitted by the receipt thereof. The taxpayer protesting an
facts and the law, rules and regulations, or withholding agent; or assessment may file a written request for
jurisprudence on which the proposed (c) When a taxpayer who opted to claim a reconsideration or reinvestigation defined as
assessment is based. refund or tax credit of excess creditable follows:
withholding tax for a taxable period was (i) Request for reconsideration —
If the taxpayer fails to respond within fifteen (15) determined to have carried over and refers to a plea of re-evaluation of an
days from date of receipt of the PAN, he shall be automatically applied the same amount assessment on the basis of existing
considered in default, in which case, a Formal claimed against the estimated tax records without need of additional
Letter of Demand and Final Assessment Notice liabilities for the taxable quarter or evidence. It may involve both a
(FLD/FAN) shall be issued calling for payment of quarters of the succeeding taxable year; question of fact or of law or both.
the taxpayer's deficiency tax liability, inclusive of or
the applicable penalties. (d) When the excise tax due on excisable (ii) Request for reinvestigation — refers
articles has not been paid; or to a plea of re-evaluation of an
If the taxpayer, within fifteen (15) days from date (e) When the article locally purchased or assessment on the basis of newly
of receipt of the PAN, responds that he/it imported by an exempt person -- such discovered or additional evidence
disagrees with the findings of deficiency tax or as, but not limited to, vehicles, capital that a taxpayer intends to present in
taxes, an FLD/FAN shall be issued within fifteen equipment, machineries and spare parts the reinvestigation. It may also
(15) days from filing/submission of the -- has been sold, traded or transferred to involve a question of fact or of law or
taxpayer’s response, calling for payment of the non-exempt persons. both.
taxpayer's deficiency tax liability, inclusive of the
applicable penalties. Accordingly, both the sending of the PAN and If the taxpayer fails to file a valid protest against
the FAN is mandatorily required to inform the the FLD/FAN within thirty (30) days from date of
taxpayer of his liability for deficiency taxes. If receipt thereof, the assessment shall become
only the FAN is issued, the requirements of due final, executory and demandable. No request for
process are deemed unsatisfied, and the reconsideration or reinvestigation shall be
assessment shall be deemed VOID AB INITIO. granted on tax assessments that have already
become final, executory and demandable.
C. PROTEST D. APPEAL TO THE CTA E. APPEAL TO THE SUPREME COURT

The taxpayer shall submit all relevant supporting The Court of Tax Appeals was created under RA If the CTA En Banc renders unfavorable decision
documents in support of his protest within sixty 1125. It is a special court of limited jurisdiction or denied the appeal to en banc, the taxpayer
(60) days from date of filing of his letter of particularly in the field of tax collection cases. adversely affected by the decision may file with
protest, otherwise, the assessment shall become RA 9282 expanded the jurisdiction of the CTA, the Supreme Court a petition for certiorari under
final. elevating it rank to the level of a collegiate court Rule 45.
(CA) with special jurisdiction and likewise
If the protest or administrative appeal, as the expanding its membership. The Court recognizes that the CTA, which by its
case may be, is denied, in whole or in part, by very nature of its function is dedicated
the Commissioner, the taxpayer may appeal to Failure of a taxpayer to appeal from an exclusively to the consideration of tax problems,
the CTA within thirty (30) days from date of assessment on time rendered the assessment has necessarily developed an expertise on the
receipt of the said decision. Otherwise, the final, executory and demandable. Consequently, subject, and its conclusion will not be overturned
assessment shall become final, executory and petitioner is precluded from disputing the unless there has been an abuse or improvident
demandable. A motion for reconsideration of correctness of the assessment. exercise of authority. Such findings can only be
the Commissioner’s denial of the protest or disturbed on appeal if they are not supported by
administrative appeal, as the case may be, In Ker and Company, ltd. V. Court of Tax substantial evidence or there is a showing of
shall not toll the thirty (30)-day period to Appeals, the Court held that while the right to gross error or abuse on the part of the tax court.
appeal to the CTA. appeal a decision of the Commissioner to the In the absence of any clear and convincing proof
CTA is merely a statutory remedy, nevertheless to the contrary, the Court must presume that the
If the protest or administrative appeal is not the requirements that it must be brought within CTA rendered a decision which is valid in every
acted upon by the Commissioner within one 30 days is jurisdictional. If a statutory remedy respect. (Barcelon Roxas Sec. v. CIR)
hundred eighty (180) days counted from the date provides a condition precedent that the action to
of filing of the protest, the taxpayer may either: enforce it must be commenced within a
(i) appeal to the CTA within thirty (30) days from prescribed time, such a requirement is
after the expiration of the one hundred eighty jurisdictional and failure to comply therewith
(180)-day period; or (ii) await the final decision of may be raised in a motion to dismiss.
the Commissioner on the disputed assessment
and appeal such final decision to the CTA within The failure to comply with the 30-day statutory
thirty (30) days after the receipt of a copy of period would bar the appeal and deprive the
such decision. Court of Tax Appeals its jurisdiction to entertain
and determine the correctness of the
It must be emphasized, however, that in case of assessment.
inaction on protested assessment within the
180-day period, the option of the taxpayer to A party adversely affected by a resolution of a
either: (1) file a petition for review with the CTA Division of the CTA on a motion for
within 30 days after the expiration of the 180-day reconsideration or new trial, may file a petition
period; or (2) await the final decision of the for review with the CTA En Banc.
Commissioner or his duly
INCOME TAX REFUND (Sec 229 NIRC) REFUND ON INPUT TAX CREDIT (Sec 219 NIRC)

"In any case, no such suit or


proceeding shall be filed
after the expiration of two
(2) years from the date of
payment of the tax or
penalty regardless of any
supervening cause that may
arise after payment:

Provided, however, That the


Commissioner may, even
without a written claim
therefor, refund or credit any
tax, where on the face of the
return upon which payment
was made, such payment
appears clearly to have been
erroneously paid.

ILLUSTRATION:

ABC Corporation files Income ILLUSTRATION: ABC Corp. VAT-Registered is into export trading, it
tax Return on 4/15/2015, the purchased goods amounting to 1M plus 12% equivalent to 120,000 on
last day to file Tax Refund 01/05/2014. It sold the goods on export basis on 5/5/2014.
shall be 4/15/2017.  The sale was made on 5/5/2014 (Second qtr) and the close of 2 nd Qtr
is 06/30/2014, therefore Refund may be filed up to 06/30/2016.
1. If ABC Corp. files a tax refund on 4/10/2016 and an adverse
decision was received on 3/1/2017, he may appeal within 30 1. If ABC Corp. filed a written claim for refund on 06/30/2015. He may
days. file an appeal upon receipt of adverse decision, or if NO ACTION was
2. If ABC Corp. files a tax refund on 4/10/2016 and received an made after 120 days, he may file an appeal within 30 days upon the
adverse decision only on 4/10/2017, he has only 5 days to file lapse of 120-day period.
appeal with the CTA division as the action will prescribe on 2. If ABC Corp. filed a written claim for refund on 06/01/2016 or a month
4/15/2017. The filing of refund does not toll the 2-year before the action prescribes, he still has to wait for 120 days to lapse
prescriptive period for filing tax refund. before an appeal may be made with 30 days upon the lapse of 120-
3. If ABC Corp. filed a tax refund on 4/10/2016 and the decision day period.
has not been rendered a day or days before 4/15/2017. It may  The taxpayer shall give the government 120 days to resolve the claim
be considered as implied denial and Appeal may be made on or for refund.
before 4/15/2017.  The “120+30-day rule” is mandatory and jurisdictional.
INCOME TAX REFUND (Sec. 229 NIRC)
SECTION 229. Recovery of Tax Erroneously or Illegally Collected. - No suit or proceeding shall be maintained in
any court for the recovery of any national internal revenue tax hereafter alleged to have been erroneously or
illegally assessed or collected, or of any penalty claimed to have been collected without authority, or of any sum
alleged to have been excessively or in any manner wrongfully collected, until a claim for refund or credit has been
duly filed with the Commissioner; but such suit or proceeding may be maintained, whether or not such tax,
penalty, or sum has been paid under protest or duress.

"In any case, no such suit or proceeding shall be filed after the expiration of two (2) years from the date of
payment of the tax or penalty regardless of any supervening cause that may arise after payment: Provided,
however, That the Commissioner may, even without a written claim therefor, refund or credit any tax, where on
the face of the return upon which payment was made, such payment appears clearly to have been erroneously
paid.

National Internal Revenue Code; income tax; creditable withholding tax; refund; requisites. There are three
essential conditions for the grant of a claim for refund of creditable withholding income tax, to wit: (1) the claim is
filed with the Commissioner of Internal Revenue within the two-year period from the date of payment of the tax;
(2) it is shown on the return of the recipient that the income payment received was declared as part of the gross
income; and (3) the fact of withholding is established by a copy of a statement duly issued by the payor to the
payee showing the amount paid and the amount of the tax withheld therefrom. Commissioner of Internal Revenue
v. Team (Philippines) Operations Corporation (formerly Mirant Phils., Operation Corporation), G.R. No. 179260,
April 2, 2014.

National Internal Revenue Code; income tax; tax credit or refund; corporations; irrevocability rule. In case
the corporation is entitled to a tax credit or refund of the excess estimated quarterly income taxes paid, the excess
amount shown on its final adjustment return may be carried over and credited against the estimated quarterly
income tax liabilities for the taxable quarters of the succeeding taxable years. Once the option to carry-over and
apply the excess quarterly income tax against income tax due for the taxable quarters of the succeeding taxable
years has been made, such option shall be considered irrevocable for that taxable period and no application for
cash refund or issuance of a tax credit certificate shall be allowed therefor. Commissioner of Internal Revenue v.
Team (Philippines) Operations Corporation (formerly Mirant Phils., Operation Corporation), G.R. No. 179260,
April 2, 2014.

Court of Tax Appeals; findings and conclusions of the CTA are accorded highest respect. The findings and
conclusions of the Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) are accorded the highest respect and will not be lightly set aside.
The CTA, by the very nature of its functions, is dedicated exclusively to the resolution of tax problems and has
accordingly developed an expertise on the subject unless there has been an abusive or improvident exercise of
authority. Consequently, its conclusions will not be overturned unless there has been an abuse or improvident
exercise of authority. Its findings can only be disturbed on appeal if they are not supported by substantial
evidence or there is a showing of gross error or abuse on the part of the Tax Court. In the absence of any clear
and convincing proof to the contrary, the Court must presume that the CTA rendered a decision which is valid in
every respect. Commissioner of Internal Revenue v. Team (Philippines) Operations Corporation (formerly Mirant
Phils., Operation Corporation), G.R. No. 179260, April 2, 2014.
INPUT TAX REFUND FOR UNUTILIZED INPUT TAX CREDIT ON ZERO-RATED
TRANSACTIONS (Sec 112 of NIRC)

"SECTION 112. Refunds or Tax Credits of Input Tax. -

"(A) Zero-rated or Effectively Zero-rated Sales. - Any VAT-registered person, whose sales are zero-rated or
effectively zero-rated may, within two (2) years after the close of the taxable quarter when the sales were made,
apply for the issuance of a tax credit certificate or refund of creditable input tax due or paid attributable to such
sales.

National Internal Revenue Code; value-added tax; zero-rated or effectively zero-rated sales; unutilized
input value-added tax; claims for tax credit or refund; period to file appeal with the Court of Tax Appeals.
Section 112 (D) of the National Internal Revenue Code provides the Commissioner of Internal Revenue a 120-day
period from submission of complete documents in support of the administrative claim within which to act on claims
for refund/applications for issuance of the tax credit certificate. Upon denial of the claim or application, or upon
expiration of the 120-day period, the taxpayer only has 30 days within which to appeal said adverse decision or
unacted claim before the CTA, otherwise, said judicial claim shall be considered as filed out of
time. Commissioner of Internal Revenue v. Silicon Philippines, Inc. (formerly Intel Philippines Manufacturing,
Inc.), G.R. No. 169778, March 12, 2014.

National Internal Revenue Code; value-added tax; unutilized input VAT; claims for tax credit or refund;
prescriptive periods. (1) An administrative claim must be filed with the Commissioner of Internal Revenue (CIR)
within two years after the close of the taxable quarter when the zero-rated or effectively zero-rated sales were
made. (2) The CIR has 120 days from the date of submission of complete documents in support of the
administrative claim within which to decide whether to grant a refund or issue a tax credit certificate. The 120-day
period may extend beyond the two-year period from the filing of the administrative claim if the claim is filed in the
later part of the two-year period. If the 120-day period expires without any decision from the CIR, then the
administrative claim may be considered to be denied by inaction. (3) A judicial claim must be filed with the Court
of Tax Appeals (CTA) within 30 days from the receipt of the CIR’s decision denying the administrative claim or
from the expiration of the 120-day period without any action from the CIR. (4) All taxpayers can rely on Bureau of
Internal Revenue Ruling No. DA-489-03 from the time of its issuance on December 10, 2003 up to its reversal by
the Court in the Aichi case on October 6, 2010, as an exception to the mandatory and jurisdictional 120+30 day
periods. Commissioner of Internal Revenue v. Silicon Philippines, Inc. (formerly Intel Philippines Manufacturing,
Inc.), G.R. No. 169778, March 12, 2014.
PROCEDURE IN CUSTOMS PROTEST CASES
COLLECTOR –
Appraisal, Classification, Assessment &
Collection

Payment under protest within 30 days after discharge of


last package
PAY TARIFF AND DUTIES UNDER PROTEST
Filing of Protest with the Collector within 15 days after
payment
FILE PROTEST WITH THE COLLECTOR
Issuance of order of hearing within 15 days
from receipt of protest. When the protest is in
proper form, Collector shall re-examine the
matter presented.
COLLECTOR CONDUCTS HEARING

COLLECTOR DENIES PROTEST – COLLECTOR SUSTAINS PROTEST – If


If the Collector denies the protest the Collector grants the protest
filed by the taxpayer, the taxpayer filed by the taxpayer, the decision
must file a Notice of Appeal to the is adverse to the government, and
Collector within 15 days from hence, there will be an Automatic
notice, copy furnish the Review by the Commissioner.
Commissioner.
The records of the case shall be
The Collector shall transmit all elevated to the Commissioner of
the records of the proceeding to Customs for Automatic Review within
the Commissioner. 5 days from the promulgation.

AUTOMATIC REVIEW BY THE


APPEAL TO THE COMMISSIONER
(The Commissioner shall render
COMMISSIONER a decision within 30 days from
receipt of the records of the
case.
If the Commissioner
If the commissioner AFFIRMS the decision of
renders a decision the Collector granting
ADVERSE to the the protest or NO
government, there will DECISION was rendered
be an automatic Appeal. within 30 days
AUTOMATIC APPEAL AUTOMATIC REVIEW
TO THE SEC. OF TO THE SEC. OF
FINANCE FINANCE

If the decision of the Sec. of Finance is


If the Sec. still adverse to Government or no decision If the Sec. of
of Finance after 30 days, the decision appealed from Finance
renders becomes renders
decision FINAL AND EXECUTORY. decision
adverse to adverse to the
the taxpayer, taxpayer, he
he may still may still file
file an an appeal with
appeal with the CTA.
APPEAL TO THE CTA
the CTA. If the Commissioner
If the commissioner REVERSED the decision
renders a decision of the Collector, the
adverse to the Taxpayer may appeal to
TAXPAYER, He may the CTA within 30
appeal to the CTA days.
within 30 days

APPEAL TO
SC

You might also like