COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Petitioners,
vs.
ASIATRUST DEVELOPMENT BANK, INC., Respondents
G.R. No. 201680-81
FACTS:
 Sometime in February 2000, Commissioner of Internal Revenue Issued
three formal letters of demand (FOD) to Asiatrust with Assessment
Notices for deficient revenue taxes for Fiscal Years ending June 30, 1996,
1997, 1998.
 In March 17, 2000, Asiatrust protested the assessment notices.
 On December 28, 2001, the CIR issued new assessment notices, with
amounts lower than the original issuances. On the same day, Asiatrust
made partial payments on said assessment.
 On April 19, 2005, the CIR approved Asiatrust's Offer of Compromise of
DST - regular assessments for the fiscal years ending June 30, 1996, 1997,
and 1998.
 During the trial, Asiatrust manifested that it availed of the Tax Abatement
Program for its deficiency final withholding tax - trust assessments for
fiscal years ending June 30, 1996 and 1998; and that on June 29, 2007, it
paid the basic taxes in the amounts of P4,187,683.27 and P6,097,825.03
for the said fiscal years, respectively. 11 Asiatrust also claimed that on
March 6, 2008, it availed of the provisions of Republic Act (RA) No. 9480,
otherwise known as the Tax Amnesty Law of 2007.
 On January 20, 2009, the CTA Division rendered a Decision partially
granting the Petition. The CTA Division declared void the tax assessments
for fiscal year ending June 30, 1996 for having been issued beyond the
three-year prescriptive period.
 The assessment notice issued to Asiatrust for deficiency income,
documentary stamp - regular, documentary stamp - trust, and fringe
benefits tax assessments for the fiscal years ended June 30, 1997 & 1998,
and the deficiency documentary stamp tax - IBCL assessment for the fiscal
year ended June 30, 1997 were ordered CANCELLED and WITHDRAWN.
 The deficiency documentary stamp tax - Special Savings Account
assessments for the fiscal years ended June 30, 1997 & 1998, and
deficiency documentary stamp tax - IBCL and deficiency final withholding
tax - trust assessments for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1998, in the
aggregate amount of P142,777,785.91 were affirmed.
 Asiatrust filed an MR attaching photocopies of its Application for
Abatement Program, BIR Payment Form, BIR Tax Payment Deposit Slip,
Improved Voluntary Assessment Program Application Forms, Tax
Amnesty Return, Tax Amnesty Payment Form, Notice of Availment of Tax
Amnesty and Statement of Assets and Liabilities and Networth (SALN) as
of June 30, 2005.
 The CIR, on the other hand, filed an MR of the assessments assailing the
CTA Division's finding of prescription and cancellation of assessment
notices for deficiency income, DST - regular, DST - trust, and fringe benefit
tax for fiscal years ending June 30, 1997 and 1998
 On July 6, 2009, the CTA Division issued a Resolution denying the CIR’
motion and partially granting the motion by Asiatrust. The latter’s
availment of the Tax Abatement Program was not considered for failure
to submit a termination letter from the BIR. Another hearing was
scheduled for the presentation of the originals of the documents attached
to Asiatrust’s MR.
 Meanwhile, the CIR appealed the January 20, 2009 Decision and the July
6, 2009 Resolution before the CTA En Banc via a Petition for Review
docketed as CTA EB No. 508. The CTA En Banc however dismissed the
Petition for being premature considering that the proceedings before the
CT A Division was still pending
 On March 16, 20l0, the CTA Division rendered an Amended Decision.
Asiatrust is entitled to the immunities and privileges granted in the Tax
Amnesty Law. However, liability for deficiency final withholding tax
assessment for fiscal year ended June 30, 1998, in the amount of
₱l0,183,367.80, is REAFFIRMED.
ISSUE:

1. WON Asiatrust is entitled to the Tax Abatement program absent the

issuance of the termination letter by the BIR (DENIED)
2. WON the CIR’s failure to file an MR in the amended decision of the
CTA Division is grounds for dismissal of Petition for Review with CTA
En Banc (AFFIRMED)

HELD:

1. Section 204(B) of the 1997 National lnten1al Revenue Code (NIRC)

empowers the CIR to abate or cancel a tax liability. On September 27,
2006, the BIR issued .RR No. 15-06 prescribing the guidelines on the
implementation of the one-time administrative abatement of all
penalties/surcharges and interest on delinquent accounts and
assessments (preliminary or final, disputed or not) as of .June 30, 2006.
Based on the guidelines, the last step in the tax abatement process is the
issuance of the termination letter. The presentation of the termination
letter is essential as it proves that the taxpayer's application for tax
abatement has been approved. Thus, without a termination letter, a tax
assessment cannot be considered closed and terminated

2. Section 1, Rule 8 of the Revised Rules of the CTA states:

SECTION 1. Review of cases in the Court en bane. - In cases falling under

the exclusive appellate jurisdiction of the Court en bane, the petition for
review of a decision or resolution of the Court in Division must be
preceded by the filing of a timely motion for reconsideration or new trial
with the Division.

The CIR's failure to move for a reconsideration of the Amended Decision

of the CTA Division is a ground for the dismissal of its Petition for Review
before the CTA En Banc.