The Law in Numbers: Quantifying the Impact of Increased De Minimis Benefits
In the Philippines, the true measure of wealth lies not in gross income but in disposable income—the amount left after taxes and mandatory contributions. As one maxim reminds us, “A penny saved is worth two pennies earned, after taxes.” For compensation-income earners, statutory deductions such as withholding tax on compensation (WTC), Social Security System (SSS), […]
RMC No. 030-2026: Extension of Deadline for Filing of 2025 Annual Income Tax Returns
Filing for Income Tax Returns Is Extended Pursuant to Revenue Memorandum Circular (RMC) No. 030-2026, the Bureau of Internal Revenue has extended the deadline for the filing of the 2025 Annual Income Tax Returns (AITR), payment of the corresponding taxes due, and submission of required attachments from 15 April 2026 to 15 May 2026, without […]
RMC No. 24-2026: BIR Clarifies Tax Treatment of Cross-Border Services
The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), through Revenue Memorandum Circular (RMC) No. 24-2026, provides much-needed clarification on the tax treatment of cross-border services following the issuance of RMC Nos. 5-2024 and 38-2024. These earlier issuances sparked significant discussion among taxpayers, particularly on whether services rendered offshore but benefiting Philippine entities could automatically trigger Philippine tax […]
Deadlines and Discipline: The Tax Calendar Behind Philippine Business Accountability
In the Philippines, the tax calendar is less a list of dates than a system of governance. Month after month, quarter after quarter, filing deadlines quietly structure the rhythm of commercial life. From payroll withholding remittances to quarterly income declarations, the compliance cycle influences how businesses record transactions, manage liquidity, and document their activities. At […]
Failure to Withhold EWT: Why Expenses Get Disallowed During BIR Audits
In Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) tax audits, some of the most expensive findings do not begin with fraud or aggressive tax planning. They begin with something quieter — a missing withholding tax on an otherwise legitimate expense. A company pays a consultant, records the cost, and deducts it in good faith. Months or years […]
Filing Guidelines for 2025 Annual Income Tax Returns
The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has issued Revenue Memorandum Circular (RMC) No. 020-2026, dated March 16, 2026, prescribing the procedures for filing Annual Income Tax Returns (AITR) and payment of taxes for calendar year 2025. The filing deadline is April 15, 2026. This circular enforces the Ease of Paying Taxes Act (Republic Act No. […]
Navigating RR 1-2026: Clarifying Provisions for VAT on Local Sales of RBEs
Revenue Regulations (RR) No. 9-2025, issued on February 27, 2025, implements Section 295(D) or the VAT provisions of Republic Act No. 12066 (CREATE MORE Act) concerning the tax treatment of local sales of goods and/or services by Registered Business Enterprises (RBEs). Under this regulation, all local sales by RBEs are subject to 12% VAT, regardless […]
Less Tax, More Ginhawa: A Guide to Senate Bill No. 56 “Granting Increase in Take-Home Pay for All Working Filipinos Act”
A recently passed measure under Senate Bill No. 56 (or its House equivalent – House Bill No. 2616), also known as the “Granting Increase in Take-Home Pay for All Working Filipinos Act” or the GINHAWA Bill, as introduced by Senator Win Gatchalian, seeks to enhance the progressivity of the Philippine tax system by introducing more […]
Charity with Clarity: What the BIR’s New Circular Means for Cash Donations
When people think of taxes, they rarely think of charity. Donations are often seen as acts of goodwill that exist outside the formal machinery of government revenue. Yet in practice, charitable giving and tax administration are closely intertwined. The recent issuance of Revenue Memorandum Circular (RMC) No. 010-2026 by the Bureau of Internal Revenue underscores […]
RMC No. 014-2026 and RMO No. 006-2026: Clarifying the BIR’s New Audit Framework
Tax rules are often written in a language that seems designed to test the patience of even the most diligent reader. Acronyms multiply, procedures overlap, and somewhere between audit notices and revenue issuances, the ordinary taxpayer is left asking a simple question: What exactly does this mean for me? That is what makes Revenue Memorandum […]
