Wednesday, 31 August 2016

Due Process Requirement in the Issuance of a Deficiency Tax Assessment


REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE
BUREAU OF INTERNAL REVENUE
Date: November 28, 2013
REVENUE REGULATIONS NO. 18-2013
SUBJECT :  Amending Certain Sections of Revenue Regulations No. 12-99
Relative to the Due Process Requirement in the Issuance of a
Deficiency Tax Assessment
TO  : All Internal Revenue Officers and Others Concerned
___________________________________________________________________
SECTION 1.  Scope.  —  Pursuant  to  the  provisions  of  Section  244,  in  relation  to
Section  245  of  the  National  Internal  Revenue  Code  of  1997  (Tax  Code),  as
amended,  these  Regulations  are  hereby  promulgated  to  amend  provisions  of
Revenue Regulations (RR) No. 12-99.

SECTION 2.  Amendment. — Section 3 of RR 12-99 is hereby amended by deleting
Section  3.1.1  thereof  which  provides  for  the  preparation  of  a  Notice  of  Informal
Conference,  thereby  renumbering  other  provisions  thereof,  and  prescribing  other
provisions for the assessment of tax liabilities. Section 3 of RR 12-99 shall now read
as follows:

“SECTION  3.  Due  Process  Requirement  in  the  Issuance  of  a
Deficiency Tax Assessment. —
3.1 Mode of procedure in the issuance of a deficiency tax assessment:
3.1.1  Preliminary  Assessment  Notice  (PAN).  —  If  after  review  and
evaluation by the Commissioner or his duly authorized representative, as the
case may be, it is  determined that there exists sufficient basis to assess the
taxpayer  for  any  deficiency  tax  or  taxes,  the  said  Office  shall  issue  to  the
taxpayer  a  Preliminary  Assessment  Notice  (PAN)  for  the  proposed
assessment.  It  shall  show  in  detail  the  facts  and  the  law,  rules  and
regulations,  or  jurisprudence  on  which  the  proposed  assessment  is  based
(see illustration in ANNEX “A” hereof).
If  the  taxpayer  fails  to  respond  within  fifteen  (15)  days  from  date  of
receipt of the PAN, he shall be considered in  default, in which case, a Formal
Letter  of  Demand  and  Final  Assessment  Notice  (FLD/FAN)  shall  be  issued
calling  for  payment  of  the  taxpayer's  deficiency  tax  liability,  inclusive  of  the
applicable penalties.

If the taxpayer, within fifteen (15) days from  date of receipt of the PAN,
responds that he/it  disagrees  with the findings of deficiency tax or taxes, an
FLD/FAN shall be issued within fifteen (15) days from  filing/submission  of the
taxpayer’s  response,  calling  for  payment  of  the  taxpayer's  deficiency   tax
liability, inclusive of the applicable penalties.

3.1.2  Exceptions to Prior Notice of the Assessment.  —  Pursuant to
Section 228 of the Tax Code, as amended, a PAN shall not be required in any
of the following cases:
(i)  When the finding for any deficiency tax is the result of mathematical
error in the computation of the tax appearing on the face of the tax
return filed by the taxpayer; or
(ii)  When a discrepancy has been determined between the tax withheld
and the amount actually remitted by the withholding agent; or
(iii)  When a taxpayer who opted to claim a refund or tax credit of excess
creditable  withholding  tax  for  a  taxable  period  was  determined  to
have  carried  over  and  automatically  applied  the  same  amount
claimed against the estimated tax liabilities for the taxable quarter or
quarters of the succeeding taxable year; or
(iv)  When the excise tax due on excisable articles has not been paid; or
(v)  When an article locally purchased or imported by an exempt person,
such as, but not limited to, vehicles, capital equipment,  machineries
and spare parts, has been sold, traded or transferred to non-exempt persons.
In the above-cited cases, a FLD/FAN shall be issued outright.

3.1.3  Formal  Letter  of  Demand  and  Final  Assessment  Notice
(FLD/FAN).  —  The  Formal  Letter  of  Demand  and  Final  Assessment  Notice
(FLD/FAN)  shall  be  issued  by  the  Commissioner  or  his  duly  authorized
representative. The  FLD/FAN  calling for payment of the taxpayer's deficiency
tax or taxes shall state the facts, the law, rules and regulations, or jurisprudence
on which the assessment is based;  otherwise, the assessment shall be void
(see illustration in ANNEX “B” hereof).

3.1.4  Disputed  Assessment.  —  The  taxpayer  or  its  authorized
representative or tax agent may protest administratively against the aforesaid
FLD/FAN  within  thirty  (30)  days  from  date  of  receipt  thereof.  The  taxpayer
protesting  an  assessment  may  file  a  written  request  for  reconsideration  or
reinvestigation defined as follows:
(i)  Request for reconsideration —  refers to a plea of re-evaluation of
an  assessment  on  the  basis  of  existing  records  without  need  of
additional evidence. It may involve both a question of fact or of law or both.
(ii)  Request for reinvestigation  —  refers to a plea of re-evaluation of
an  assessment  on  the  basis  of  newly  discovered  or  additional
evidence that a taxpayer intends to present in the reinvestigation. It
may also involve a question of fact or of law or both.
The taxpayer shall state in his protest (i) the nature of protest whether
reconsideration  or  reinvestigation,  specifying  newly  discovered  or  additional
evidence he intends to present if it is a request for reinvestigation, (ii) date of
the assessment notice, and (iii) the applicable law, rules and regulations, or
jurisprudence  on  which  his  protest  is  based,  otherwise,  his  protest  shall  be
considered void and without force and effect.
If there are several issues involved in the FLD/FAN but the taxpayer only
disputes  or  protests  against  the  validity  of  some  of  the  issues  raised,  the
assessment attributable to the undisputed issue or issues shall become final,
executory  and  demandable;  and  the  taxpayer  shall  be  required  to  pay  the
deficiency tax or taxes attributable thereto, in which case, a collection letter
shall be issued to the taxpayer calling for payment of the said deficiency tax or
taxes, inclusive of the applicable surcharge and/or interest.
If there are several issues involved in the disputed assessment and the
taxpayer fails to state the facts, the applicable law, rules an d regulations, or
jurisprudence in support of his protest against some of the several issues on
which the assessment is based, the same shall be considered undisputed issue
or issues, in which case, the assessment attributable thereto shall become final,
executory  and  demandable;  and  the  taxpayer  shall  be  required  to  pay  the
deficiency tax or taxes attributable thereto and a collection letter shall be issued
to the taxpayer calling for payment of the said deficiency tax, inclusive of the
applicable surcharge and/or interest.
For requests for reinvestigation, the taxpayer shall submit all relevant
supporting documents in support of his protest within sixty (60) days from date
of filing of his letter of protest, otherwise,  the assessment shall become final.
The term “relevant supporting documents” refer to those documents necessary
to  support  the  legal  and  factual  bases  in  disputing  a  tax  assessment  as
determined by the taxpayer. The sixty (60)-day period for the submission of all
relevant supporting documents  shall not apply to requests for reconsideration.
Furthermore,  the  term  “the  assessment  shall  become  final”  shall  mean  the
taxpayer is barred from disputing the correctness of the  issued assessment by
introduction of newly discovered or additional evidence,   and the FDDA shall
consequently be denied.

If the taxpayer fails to file a valid protest against the  FLD/FAN within
thirty (30) days from date of receipt thereof, the assessment shall become final,
executory and demandable. No request for reconsideration  or reinvestigation
shall be granted on tax assessments that have already become final, executor and demandable.
If the protest is denied, in whole or in part, by the Commissioner’s duly
authorized representative, the taxpayer may either: (i) appeal to  the Court of
Tax  Appeals  (CTA)  within  thirty  (30)  days  from  date  of  receipt  of  the  said
decision; or (ii) elevate his protest  through request for reconsideration  to the
Commissioner within thirty (30) days from date of receipt of the said decision.
No request for reinvestigation shall be allowed in administrative appeal and only
issues  raised  in  the  decision  of  the  Commissioner’s  duly  authorized
representative shall be entertained by the Commissioner.
If the protest is not acted upon by the Commissioner’s  duly authorized
representative within one hundred eighty (180) days counted from the date of
filing  of  the  protest  in  case  of  a  request  reconsideration;  or  from  date  of
submission by the taxpayer of the required documents within sixty (60) days
from the date of filing of the protest in case of a request for reinvestigation , the
taxpayer  may  either:  (i)  appeal  to  the  CTA  within  thirty  (30)  days  after  the
expiration  of  the  one  hundred  eighty  (180)-day  period;  or  (ii)  await  the  final
decision of the Commissioner’s duly authorized representative on the disputed assessment.

If the protest or administrative appeal, as the case may be, is denied, in
whole or in part, by the Commissioner, the taxpayer may appeal to the CTA
within thirty (30) days from date of receipt of the said decision. Otherwise, the
assessment  shall  become  final,  executory  and  demandable.  A  motion  for
reconsideration of the Commissioner’s denial of the protest or administrative
appeal, as the case may be, shall not toll the thirty (30)-day period to appeal to
the CTA.
If  the  protest  or  administrative  appeal  is  not  acted  upon  by  the
Commissioner within one hundred eighty (180) days counted from the date of
filing of the protest, the taxpayer may either: (i) appeal to the CTA within thirty
(30) days from after the expiration of the one hundred eighty (180)-day period;
or (ii) await the final decision of the Commissioner on the disputed assessment
and appeal such final decision to the CTA within thirty (30) days after the receipt
of a copy of such decision.
It must be emphasized, however, that in case of inaction on p rotested
assessment within the 180-day period, the option of the taxpayer to either: (1)
file a petition for review with the CTA within 30 days after the expiration of the
180-day period; or (2) await the final decision of the Commissioner or his duly
authorized representative on the disputed assessment and appeal such final
decision to the CTA within 30 days after the receipt of a copy of such decision,
are mutually exclusive and the resort to one bars the application of the other.

3.1.5  Final  Decision  on  a  Disputed  Assessment  (FDDA).  —  The
decision of the Commissioner or his duly authorized representative shall state
the  (i)  facts, the applicable law, rules and regulations, or jurisprudence on which
such decision is based, otherwise, the decision shall be void (see illustration in
ANNEX “C” hereof), and (ii) that the same is his final decision.
3.1.6  Modes of Service.  —  The notice  (PAN/FLD/FAN/FDDA)  to the
taxpayer  herein  required  may  be  served  by  the  Commissioner  or  his  duly
authorized representative through the following modes:
(i)  The  notice  shall  be  served  through  personal  service  by  delivering
personally  a  copy  thereof  to  the  party  at  his  registered  or  known
address or wherever he may be found. A known address  shall mean
a place other than the registered address where business activities
of the party are conducted or his place of residence.
In case personal service is not practicable, the notice shall be served by substituted service or by mail.
(ii)   Substituted service can be resorted to when the party is not present
at  the  registered  or  known  address  under  the  following circumstances:
The notice may be left at the party’s registered address, with his clerk
or with a person having charge thereof.
If the known address is a place where business activities of the party
are conducted, the notice may be left with his clerk or with a person having charge thereof.
If the known address is the place of residence, substituted service
can be made by leaving the copy with a person of legal age residing therein.
If no person is found in the party’s registered or known address, the
revenue officers concerned shall bring a barangay official and two (2)
disinterested witnesses to the address so that they may personally
observe and attest to such absence. The notice shall then be given
to said barangay official. Such facts shall be contained in the bottom
portion  of  the  notice,  as  well  as  the  names,  official  position  and signatures of the witnesses.

Should the party be found at his registered or known address or any
other  place  but  refuse  to  receive  the  notice,  the  revenue  officers
concerned shall bring a barangay official and two (2) disinterested
witnesses in the presence of the party so that they may personally
observe and attest to such act of refusal. The notice shall then be
given to said barangay official. Such facts shall be contained in the
bottom portion of the notice, as well as the names, official position and signatures of the witnesses.
“Disinterested witnesses” refers to persons of legal age other than
employees of the Bureau of Internal Revenue.

(iii)  Service by mail is done by sending a copy of the notice by registered
mail to the registered or known address of the party with instruction
to the Postmaster to return the mail to the sender after ten (10)  days,
if  undelivered.  A  copy  of  the  notice  may  also  be  sent  through
reputable  professional  courier  service.  If  no  registry  or  reputable
professional  courier  service  is  available  in  the  locality  of  the
addressee, service may be done by ordinary mail.
The  server shall accomplish the bottom portion of the notice. He shall
also make a written report under oath before a Notary Public or any
person authorized to administer oath under Section 14 of the NIRC,
as amended, setting forth the manner, place and date of service, the
name  of  the  person/barangay  official/professional  courier  service
company  who  received  the  same  and  such  other  relevant
information.  The  registry  receipt  issued  by  the  post  office  or  the
official receipt issued by the professional courier company containing
sufficiently  identifiable  details  of  the  transaction  shall  constitute
sufficient proof of mailing and shall be attached to the case docket.
Service to the tax agent/practitioner, who is appointed by the taxpayer under
circumstances  prescribed  in  the  pertinent  regulations  on  accreditation  of  tax
agents, shall be deemed service to the taxpayer.”

SECTION 3.  Amendment.  —  Section 5 of RR 12-99 is hereby amended by modifying
Section 5.5 thereof which provides for modes of procedures in computing for the tax
and/or applicable surcharge. In cases of late payment of a deficiency tax assessed,
the taxpayer shall be liable for the delinquency interest provided under Section 249
(C)(3) of the 1997 National Internal Revenue Code, as amended. Sec tion 5.5 of RR
12-99 shall now read as follows:
“5.5  Late  payment  of  a  deficiency  tax  assessed.  –  In  general,  the
deficiency  tax  assessed  shall  be  paid  by  the  taxpayer  within  the  time
prescribed in the notice and demand, otherwise, such taxpayer shall be liable
for the delinquency interest incident to late payment.

Illustration  1:  Based  on  the  above  Illustration  No.  3,  Scenario  4,
assuming  that  the  calendar  year  1997  deficiency  income  tax  assessment
against XYZ CORPORATION, in the amount of P304,771.67, is not paid by
June 30, 1999, the deadline for payment of the assessment, and assuming
further that this assessment has already become final and collectible. In this
case,  such  corporation  shall  be  considered  late  in  payment  of  the  said
assessment. Assuming, further, that the corporation pays its tax assessment
only  by  July  31,  1999,  the  delinquency  interest  for  late  payment  shall  be
computed as follows:

Calendar Year 1997
Income tax due per investigation        P350,000.00
Less: Income tax paid per return        P175,000.00
——————
Deficiency income tax          P175,000.00
Add:   50% surcharge for filing a
fraudulent or false return
(P175,000.00 times 50%)        P  87,500.00
20% int. p.a. fr. 4-15-98 to 7-31-99
(P175,000.00 times .258630)      P  45,260.27
——————
Total amount due            P307,760.27
Add:   20% delinquency interest p.a. from 7-1-99 to
7-31-99
Basic Tax      175,000.00
Surcharge        87,500.00
20% int. p.a. fr. 4-15-98
to 6-30-99        42,271.67
——————
Total        304,771.67
(P304,771.67 times .0166667)      P5,079.54
___________
Total amount due (excluding suggested compromise
penalty for late payment)          P312,839.81
===========

Illustration  2:  Based on the immediately preceding Illustration, assuming
that the calendar year 1997 deficiency income tax assessment against XYZ
CORPORATION, in the amount of P304,771.67, is not paid by June 30, 1999,
the deadline for payment of the assessment but is instead timely protested.
Assuming  further  that  after  exhaustion  of  all  administrative  remedies,  the

assessment was upheld and became final, executory and demandable on July
1, 2000. However, payment was made by the taxpayer only on June 30, 2002.
In this case, such corporation shall be considered late in payment of the said
assessment. The civil penalties for late payment shall be computed as follows:
Calendar Year 1997
Income tax due per investigation        P350,000.00
Less: Income tax paid per return        P175,000.00
——————
Deficiency income tax          P175,000.00
Add:   50% surcharge for filing a
fraudulent or false return
(P175,000.00 times 50%)        P  87,500.00
20% int. p.a. fr. 4-15-98 to 6-30-2002
(P175,000.00 times .841644)      P147,287.70
——————
Total amount due            P409,787.70
Add:   20% delinquency interest p.a. from 7-2-2000 to
6-30-2002
Basic Tax      175,000.00
Surcharge        87,500.00
20% int. p.a. fr. 4-15-98
to 7-1-00 (.4427397)    77,479.45
——————
Total        339,979.45
(P339,979.45 times .3989041)    P135,619.20
___________
Total amount due (excluding suggested compromise
penalty for late payment)          P545,406.90
===========
Illustration  3:  Assuming  that  in  calendar  year  1997,  XYZ
CORPORATION  filed  a  false  or  fraudulent  return  and  was  assessed  of
deficiency basic income tax  amounting to Php100,000. Assuming further that
XYZ CORPORATION  timely protested  the said assessment.  After exhaustion
of all administrative remedies, the assessment was upheld and became final,
executory and demandable on April 15, 2001. However, payment was made
by the taxpayer only on April 15, 2003.
In this case, such corporation shall be considered late in payment of the
said assessment. The civil penalties for late payment shall be computed as
follows:
Calendar Year 1997
Total deficiency income tax assessment          P100,000.00
Add:   50% surcharge for filing a
fraudulent or false return           P  50,000.00
20% interest p.a. from 4-15-1998 to
4-15-2003 (P100,000 x 20% x 5)        P100,000.00
Delinquency Interest
20% interest p.a. from 4-15-2001 to
4-15-2003
Basic Tax      100,000.00
Surcharge        50,000.00
20% int. p.a. fr. 4-15-98
to 4-15-01        60,000.00
——————
Total        210,000.00
(P210,000.00 x 20% x 2)        P84,000.00
__________
Total Amount Due As of April 15, 2003
(excluding suggested compromise penalty for late payment)  P334,000.00
===========”
SECTION 4.  Repealing  Clause.  —  Any  rules  and  regulations  or  parts  thereof
inconsistent with the provisions of these Regulations are hereby repealed, amended,
or modified accordingly.
SECTION 5.  Effectivity. —The provisions of these Regulations shall take effect after
fifteen (15) days following publication in any newspaper of general circulation.
(Original Signed)
CESAR V. PURISIMA
Secretary of Finance
Recommending Approval:
(Original Signed)
KIM S. JACINTO-HENARES

Commissioner of Internal Revenue


Source
ftp://ftp.bir.gov.ph/webadmin1/pdf/79052RR%2018-13%20final.pdf. [Accessed 1 September 2016].

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