CHAPTER II – CIVIL REMEDIES FOR COLLECTION OF TAXES

Section 205. Remedies for the Collection of Delinquent Taxes. – The civil remedies for the collection of internal revenue taxes, fees or charges, and any increment thereto resulting from delinquency shall be:

(a) By distraint of goods, chattels, or effects, and other personal property of whatever character, including stocks and other securities, debts, credits, bank accounts and interest in and rights to personal property, and by levy upon real property and interest in rights to real property; and

(b) By civil or criminal action.

Either of these remedies or both simultaneously may be pursued in the discretion of the authorities charged with the collection of such taxes: Provided, however, That the remedies of distraint and levy shall not be availed of where the amount of tax involve is not more than One hundred pesos (P100).

The judgment in the criminal case shall not only impose the penalty but shall also order payment of the taxes subject of the criminal case as finally decided by the Commissioner.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue shall advance the amounts needed to defray costs of collection by means of civil or criminal action, including the preservation or transportation of personal property distrained and the advertisement and sale thereof, as well as of real property and improvements thereon.

Section 206. Constructive Distraint of the Property of A Taxpayer. – To safeguard the interest of the Government, the Commissioner may place under constructive distraint the property of a delinquent taxpayer or any taxpayer who, in his opinion, is retiring from any business subject to tax, or is intending to leave the Philippines or to remove his property therefrom or to hide or conceal his property or to perform any act tending to obstruct the proceedings for collecting the tax due or which may be due from him.

The constructive distraint of personal property shall be affected by requiring the taxpayer or any person having possession or control of such property to sign a receipt covering the property distrained and obligate himself to preserve the same intact and unaltered and not to dispose of the same ;in any manner whatever, without the express authority of the Commissioner.

In case the taxpayer or the person having the possession and control of the property sought to be placed under constructive distraint refuses or fails to sign the receipt herein referred to, the revenue officer effecting the constructive distraint shall proceed to prepare a list of such property and, in the presence of two (2) witnessed, leave a copy thereof in the premises where the property distrained is located, after which the said property shall be deemed to have been placed under constructive distraint.

Section 207. Summary Remedies. –

(A) Distraint of Personal Property. – Upon the failure of the person owing any delinquent tax or delinquent revenue to pay the same at the time required, the Commissioner or his duly authorized representative, if the amount involved is in excess of One million pesos (P1,000,000), or the Revenue District Officer, if the amount involved is One million pesos (P1,000,000) or less, shall seize and distraint any goods, chattels or effects, and the personal property, including stocks and other securities, debts, credits, bank accounts, and interests in and rights to personal property of such persons ;in sufficient quantity to satisfy the tax, or charge, together with any increment thereto incident to delinquency, and the expenses of the distraint and the cost of the subsequent sale.

A report on the distraint shall, within ten (10) days from receipt of the warrant, be submitted by the distraining officer to the Revenue District Officer, and to the Revenue Regional Director: Provided, That the Commissioner or his duly authorized representative shall, subject to rules and regulations promulgated by the Secretary of Finance, upon recommendation of the Commissioner, have the power to lift such order of distraint: Provided, further, That a consolidated report by the Revenue Regional Director may be required by the Commissioner as often as necessary.

(B) Levy on Real Property. – After the expiration of the time required to pay the delinquent tax or delinquent revenue as prescribed in this Section, real property may be levied upon, before simultaneously or after the distraint of personal property belonging to the delinquent. To this end, any internal revenue officer designated by the Commissioner or his duly authorized representative shall prepare a duly authenticated certificate showing the name of the taxpayer and the amounts of the tax and penalty due from him. Said certificate shall operate with the force of a legal execution throughout the Philippines.

Levy shall be affected by writing upon said certificate a description of the property upon which levy is made. At the same time, written notice of the levy shall be mailed to or served upon the Register of Deeds for the province or city where the property is located and upon the delinquent taxpayer, or if he be absent from the Philippines, to his agent or the manager of the business in respect to which the liability arose, or if there be none, to the occupant of the property in question.

In case the warrant of levy on real property is not issued before or simultaneously with the warrant of distraint on personal property, and the personal property of the taxpayer is not sufficient to satisfy his tax delinquency, the Commissioner or his duly authorized representative shall, within thirty (30) days after execution of the distraint, proceed with the levy on the taxpayer’s real property.

Within ten (10) days after receipt of the warrant, a report on any levy shall be submitted by the levying officer to the Commissioner or his duly authorized representative: Provided, however, That a consolidated report by the Revenue Regional Director may be required by the Commissioner as often as necessary: Provided, further, That the Commissioner or his duly authorized representative, subject to rules and regulations promulgated by the Secretary of Finance, upon recommendation of the Commissioner, shall have the authority to lift warrants of levy issued in accordance with the provisions hereof.

Section 208. Procedure for Distraint and Garnishment. – The officer serving the warrant of distraint shall make or cause to be made an account of the goods, chattels, effects or other personal property distrained, a copy of which, signed by himself, shall be left either with the owner or person from whose possession such goods, chattels, or effects or other personal property were taken, or at the dwelling or place of business of such person and with someone of suitable age and discretion, to which list shall be added a statement of the sum demanded and note of the time and place of sale.

Stocks and other securities shall be distrained by serving a copy of the warrant of distraint upon the taxpayer and upon the president, manager, treasurer or other responsible officer of the corporation, company or association, which issued the said stocks or securities.

Debts and credits shall be distrained by leaving with the person owing the debts or having in his possession or under his control such credits, or with his agent, a copy of the warrant of distraint. The warrant of distraint shall be sufficient authority to the person owning the debts or having in his possession or under his control any credits belonging to the taxpayer to pay to the Commissioner the amount of such debts or credits.

Bank accounts shall be garnished by serving a warrant of garnishment upon the taxpayer and upon the president, manager, treasurer or other responsible officer of the bank. Upon receipt of the warrant of garnishment, the bank shall tun over to the Commissioner so much of the bank accounts as may be sufficient to satisfy the claim of the Government.

Section 209. Sale of Property Distrained and Disposition of Proceeds. – The Revenue District Officer or his duly authorized representative, other than the officer referred to in Section 208 of this Code shall, according to rules and regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Finance, upon recommendation of the Commissioner, forthwith cause a notification to be exhibited in not less than two (2) public places in the municipality or city where the distraint is made, specifying; the time and place of sale and the articles distrained. The time of sale shall not be less than twenty (20) days after notice. One place for the posting of such notice shall be at the Office of the Mayor of the city or municipality in which the property is distrained.

At the time and place fixed in such notice, the said revenue officer shall sell the goods, chattels, or effects, or other personal property, including stocks and other securities so distrained, at public auction, to the highest bidder for cash, or with the approval of the Commissioner, through duly licensed commodity or stock exchanges.

In the case of Stocks and other securities, the officer making the sale shall execute a bill of sale which he shall deliver to the buyer, and a copy thereof furnished the corporation, company or association which issued the stocks or other securities. Upon receipt of the copy of the bill of sale, the corporation, company or association shall make the corresponding entry in its books, transfer the stocks or other securities sold in the name of the buyer, and issue, if required to do so, the corresponding certificates of stock or other securities.

Any residue over and above what is required to pay the entire claim, including expenses, shall be returned to the owner of the property sold. The expenses chargeable upon each seizure and sale shall embrace only the actual expenses of seizure and preservation of the property pending ;the sale, and no charge shall be imposed for the services of the local internal revenue officer or his deputy.

Section 210. Release of Distrained Property Upon Payment Prior to Sale. – If at any time prior to the consummation of the sale all proper charges are paid to the officer conducting the sale, the goods or effects distrained shall be restored to the owner.

Section 211. Report of Sale to Bureau of Internal Revenue. – Within two (2) days after the sale, the officer making the same shall make a report of his proceedings in writing to the Commissioner and shall himself preserve a copy of such report as an official record.

Section 212. Purchase by Government at Sale Upon Distraint. – When the amount bid for the property under distraint is not equal to the amount of the tax or is very much less than the actual market value of the articles offered for sale, the Commissioner or his deputy may purchase the same in behalf of the national Government for the amount of taxes, penalties and costs due thereon.

Property so purchased may be resold by the Commissioner or his deputy, subject to the rules and regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Finance, the net proceeds therefrom shall be remitted to the National Treasury and accounted for as internal revenue.

Section 213. Advertisement and Sale. – Within twenty (20) days after levy, the officer conducting the proceedings shall proceed to advertise the property or a usable portion thereof as may be necessary to satisfy the claim and cost of sale; and such advertisement shall cover a period of a least thirty (30) days. It shall be effectuated by posting a notice at the main entrance of the municipal building or city hall and in public and conspicuous place in the barrio or district in which the real estate lies and ;by publication once a week for three (3) weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the municipality or city where the property is located. The advertisement shall contain a statement of the amount of taxes and penalties so due and the time and place of sale, the name of the taxpayer against whom taxes are levied, and a short description of the property to be sold. At any time before the day fixed for the sale, the taxpayer may discontinue all proceedings by paying the taxes, penalties and interest. If he does not do so, the sale shall proceed and shall be held either at the main entrance of the municipal building or city hall, or on the premises to be sold, as the officer conducting the proceedings shall determine and as the notice of sale shall specify.

Within five (5) days after the sale, a return by the distraining or levying officer of the proceedings shall be entered upon the records of the Revenue Collection Officer, the Revenue District officer and the Revenue Regional Director. The Revenue Collection Officer, in consultation with the Revenue district Officer, shall then make out and deliver to the purchaser a certificate from his records, showing the proceedings of the sale, describing the property sold stating the name of the purchaser and setting out the exact amount of all taxes, penalties and interest: Provided, however, That in case the proceeds of the sale exceeds the claim and cost of sale, the excess shall be turned over to the owner of the property.

The Revenue Collection Officer, upon approval by the Revenue District Officer may, out of his collection, advance an amount sufficient to defray the costs of collection by means of the summary remedies provided for in this Code, including ;the preservation or transportation in case of personal property, and the advertisement and subsequent sale, both in cases of personal and real property including improvements found on the latter. In his monthly collection reports, such advances shall be reflected and supported by receipts.

Section 214. Redemption of Property Sold. – Within one (1) year from the date of sale, the delinquent taxpayer, or any one for him, shall have the right of paying to the Revenue District Officer the amount of the public taxes, penalties, and interest thereon from the date of delinquency to the date of sale, together with interest on said purchase price at the rate of fifteen percent (15%) per annum from the date of purchase to the date of redemption, and such payment shall entitle the person paying to the delivery of the certificate issued to the purchaser and a certificate from the said Revenue District Officer that he has thus redeemed the property, and the Revenue District Officer shall forthwith pay over to the purchaser the amount by which such property has thus been redeemed, and said property thereafter shall be free form the lien of such taxes and penalties.

The owner shall not, however, be deprived of the possession of the said property and shall be entitled to the rents and other income thereof until the expiration of the time allowed for its redemption.

Section 215. Forfeiture to Government for Want of Bidder. – In case there is no bidder for real property exposed for sale as herein above provided or if the highest bid is for an amount insufficient to pay the taxes, penalties and costs, the Internal Revenue Officer conducting the sale shall declare the property forfeited to the Government in satisfaction of the claim in question and within two (2) days thereafter, shall make a return of his proceedings and the forfeiture which shall be spread upon the records of his office. It shall be the duty of the Register of Deeds concerned, upon registration with his office of any such declaration of forfeiture, to transfer the title of the property forfeited to the Government without the necessity of an order from a competent court.

Within one (1) year from the date of such forfeiture, the taxpayer, or any one for him may redeem said property by paying to the Commissioner or the latter’s Revenue Collection Officer the full amount of the taxes and penalties, together with interest thereon and the costs of sale, but if the property be not thus redeemed, the forfeiture shall become absolute.

Section 216. Resale of Real Estate Taken for Taxes. – The Commissioner shall have charge of any real estate obtained by the Government of the Philippines in payment or satisfaction of taxes, penalties or costs arising under this Code or in compromise or adjustment of any claim therefore, and said Commissioner may, upon the giving of not less than twenty (20) days notice, sell and dispose of the same of public auction or with prior approval of the Secretary of Finance, dispose of the same at private sale. In either case, the proceeds of the sale shall be deposited with the National Treasury, and an accounting of the same shall rendered to the Chairman of the Commission on Audit.

Section 217. Further Distraint or Levy. – The remedy by distraint of personal property and levy on realty may be repeated if necessary until the full amount due, including all expenses, is collected.

Section 218. Injunction not Available to Restrain Collection of Tax. – No court shall have the authority to grant an injunction to restrain the collection of any national internal revenue tax, fee or charge imposed by this Code.

Section 219. Nature and Extent of Tax Lien. – If any person, corporation, partnership, joint-account (cuentas en participacion), association or insurance company liable to pay an internal revenue tax, neglects or refuses to pay the same after demand, the amount shall be a lien in favor of the Government of the Philippines from the time when the assessment was made by the Commissioner until paid, with interests, penalties, and costs that may accrue in addition thereto upon all property and rights to property belonging to the taxpayer: Provided, That this lien shall not be valid against any mortgagee purchaser or judgment creditor until notice of such lien shall be filed by the Commissioner in the office of the Register of Deeds of the province or city where the property of the taxpayer is situated or located.

Section 220. Form and Mode of Proceeding in Actions Arising under this Code. – Civil and criminal actions and proceedings instituted in behalf of the Government under the authority of this Code or other law enforced by the Bureau of Internal Revenue shall be brought in the name of the Government of the Philippines and shall be conducted by legal officers of the Bureau of Internal Revenue but no civil or criminal action for the recovery of taxes or the enforcement of any fine, penalty or forfeiture under this Code shall be filed in court without the approval of the Commissioner.

Section 221. Remedy for Enforcement of Statutory Penal Provisions. – The remedy for enforcement of statutory penalties of all sorts shall be by criminal or civil action, as the particular situation may require, subject to the approval of the Commissioner.

Section 222. Exceptions as to Period of Limitation of Assessment and Collection of Taxes.

(a) In the case of a false or fraudulent return with intent to evade tax or of failure to file a return, the tax may be assessed, or a preceeding in court for the collection of such tax may be filed without assessment, at any time within ten (10) years after the discovery of the falsity, fraud or omission: Provided, That in a fraud assessment which has become final and executory, the fact of fraud shall be judicially taken cognizance of in the civil or criminal action for the collection thereof.

(b) If before the expiration of the time prescribed in Section 203 for the assessment of the tax, both the Commissioner and the taxpayer have agreed in writing to its assessment after such time, the tax may be assessed within the period agreed upon. The period so agreed upon may be extended by subsequent written agreement made before the expiration of the period previously agreed upon.

(c) Any internal revenue tax which has been assessed within the period of limitation as prescribed in paragraph (a) hereof may be collected by distraint or levy or by a proceeding in court within five (5) years following the assessment of the tax.

(d) Any internal revenue tax, which has been assessed within the period agreed upon as provided in paragraph (b) hereinabove, may be collected by distraint or levy or by a proceeding in court within the period agreed upon in writing before the expiration of the five (5) -year period. The period so agreed upon may be extended by subsequent written agreements made before the expiration of the period previously agreed upon.

(e) Provided, however, That nothing in the immediately preceding and paragraph (a) hereof shall be construed to authorize the examination and investigation or inquiry into any tax return filed in accordance with the provisions of any tax amnesty law or decree.

Section 223. Suspension of Running of Statute of Limitations. – The running of the Statute of Limitations provided in Sections 203 and 222 on the making of assessment and the beginning of distraint or levy a proceeding in court for collection, in respect of any deficiency, shall be suspended for the period during which the Commissioner is prohibited from making the assessment or beginning distraint or levy or a proceeding in court and for sixty (60) days thereafter; when the taxpayer requests for a reinvestigation which is granted by the Commissioner; when the taxpayer cannot be located in the address given by him in the return filed upon which a tax is being assessed or collected: Provided, that, if the taxpayer informs the Commissioner of any change in address, the running of the Statute of Limitations will not be suspended; when the warrant of distraint or levy is duly served upon the taxpayer, his authorized representative, or a member of his household with sufficient discretion, and no property could be located; and when the taxpayer is out of the Philippines.

Section 224. Remedy for Enforcement of Forfeitures. – The forfeiture of chattels and removable fixtures of any sort shall be enforced by the seizure and sale, or destruction, of the specific forfeited property. The forfeiture of real property shall be enforced by a judgment of condemnation and sale in a legal action or proceeding, civil or criminal, as the case may require.

Section 225. When Property to be Sold or Destroyed. – Sales of forfeited chattels and removable fixtures shall be effected, so far as practicable, in the same manner and under the same conditions as the public notice and the time and manner of sale as are prescribed for sales of personal property distrained for the non-payment of taxes.

Distilled spirits, liquors, cigars, cigarettes, other manufactured products of tobacco, and all apparatus used I or about the illicit production of such articles may, upon forfeiture, be destroyed by order of the Commissioner, when the sale of the same for consumption or use would be injurious to public health or prejudicial to the enforcement of the law.

All other articles subject to excise tax, which have been manufactured or removed in violation of this Code, as well as dies for the printing or making of internal revenue stamps and labels which are in imitation of or purport to be lawful stamps, or labels may, upon forfeiture, be sold or destroyed in the discretion of the Commissioner.

Forfeited property shall not be destroyed until at least twenty (20) days after seizure.

Section 226. Disposition of funds Recovered in Legal Proceedings or Obtained from Forfeitures. – all judgments and monies recovered and received for taxes, costs, forfeitures, fines and penalties shall be paid to the Commissioner or his authorized deputies as the taxes themselves are required to be paid, and except as specially provided, shall be accounted for and dealt with the same way.

Section 227. Satisfaction of Judgment Recovered Against any Internal Revenue Officer. – When an action is brought against any Internal Revenue officer to recover damages by reason of any act done in the performance of official duty, and the Commissioner is notified of such action in time to make defense against the same, through the Solicitor General, any judgment, damages or costs recovered in such action shall be satisfied by the Commissioner, upon approval of the Secretary of Finance, or if the same be paid by the person used shall be repaid or reimbursed to him.

No such judgment, damages, or costs shall be paid or reimbursed in behalf of a person who has acted negligently or in bad faith, or with willful oppression.

CHAPTER III – PROTESTING AN ASSESSMENT, REFUND, ETC.

Section 228. Protesting of Assessment. – When the Commissioner or his duly authorized representative finds that proper taxes should be assessed, he shall first notify the taxpayer of his findings: provided, however, That a preassessment notice shall not be required in the following cases:

(a) When the finding for any deficiency tax is the result of mathematical error in the computation of the tax as appearing on the face of the return; or

(b) When a discrepancy has been determined between the tax withheld and the amount actually remitted by the withholding agent; or

(c) 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

(d) When the excise tax due on exciseable articles has not been paid; or

(e) When the 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.

The taxpayers shall be informed in writing of the law and the facts on which the assessment is made; otherwise, the assessment shall be void.

Within a period to be prescribed by implementing rules and regulations, the taxpayer shall be required to respond to said notice. If the taxpayer fails to respond, the Commissioner or his duly authorized representative shall issue an assessment based on his findings.

Such assessment may be protested administratively by filing a request for reconsideration or reinvestigation within thirty (30) days from receipt of the assessment in such form and manner as may be prescribed by implementing rules and regulations.

Within sixty (60) days from filing of the protest, all relevant supporting documents shall have been submitted; otherwise, the assessment shall become final.

If the protest is denied in whole or in part, or is not acted upon within one hundred eighty (180) days from submission of documents, the taxpayer adversely affected by the decision or inaction may appeal to the Court of Tax Appeals within thirty (30) days from receipt of the said decision, or from the lapse of one hundred eighty (180)-day period; otherwise, the decision shall become final, executory and demandable.

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, of any sum alleged to have been excessively or in any manner wrongfully 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.

Section 230. Forfeiture of Cash Refund and of Tax Credit. –

(A) Forfeiture of Refund. – A refund check or warrant issued in accordance with the pertinent provisions of this Code, which shall remain unclaimed or uncashed within five (5) years from the date the said warrant or check was mailed or delivered, shall be forfeited in favor of the Government and the amount thereof shall revert to the general fund.

(B) Forfeiture of Tax Credit. – A tax credit certificate issued in accordance with the pertinent provisions of this Code, which shall remain unutilized after five (5) years from the date of issue, shall, unless revalidated, be considered invalid, and shall not be allowed as payment for internal revenue tax liabilities of the taxpayer, and the amount covered by the certificate shall revert to the general fund.

(C) Transitory Provision. – For purposes of the preceding Subsection, a tax credit certificate issued by the Commissioner or his duly authorized representative prior to January 1, 1998, which remains unutilized or has a creditable balance as of said date, shall be presented for revalidation with the Commissioner or his duly authorized representative or on before June 30, 1998.

Section 231. Action to Contest Forfeiture of Chattel. – In case of the seizure of personal property under claim of forfeiture, the owner desiring to contest the validity of the forfeiture may, at any time before sale or destruction of the property, bring an action against the person seizing the property or having possession thereof to recover the same, and upon giving proper bond, may enjoin the sale; or after the sale and within six (6) months, he may bring an action to recover the net proceeds realized at the sale.

TITLE IX

COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS

CHAPTER I – KEEPING OF BOOKS OF ACCOUNTS AND RECORDS

Section 232. Keeping of Books of Accounts. –

(A) Corporations, Companies, Partnerships or Persons Required to Keep Books of Accounts. – All corporations, companies, partnerships or persons required by law to pay internal revenue taxes shall keep a journal and a ledger or their equivalents: Provided, however, That those whose quarterly sales, earnings, receipts, or output do not exceed Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000) shall keep and use simplified set of bookkeeping records duly authorized by the Secretary of Finance where in all transactions and results of operations are shown and from which all taxes due the Government may readily and accurately be ascertained and determined any time of the year: Provided, further, That corporations, companies, partnerships or persons whose gross quarterly sales, earnings, receipts or output exceed One hundred fifty thousand pesos (P150,000) shall have their books of accounts audited and examined yearly by independent Certified Public Accountants and their income tax returns accompanied with a duly accomplished Account Information Form (AIF) which shall contain, among others, information lifted from certified balance sheets, profit and loss statements, schedules listing income-producing properties and the corresponding income therefrom and other relevant statements.

(B) Independent Certified Public Accountant Defined. – The term ‘Independent Certified Public Accountant’, as used in the preceding paragraph, means an accountant who possesses the independence as defined in the rules and regulations of the Board of Accountancy promulgated pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 692, otherwise known as the Revised Accountancy Law.

Section 233. Subsidiary Books. – All corporations, companies, partnerships or persons keeping the books of accounts mentioned in the preceding Section may, at their option, keep subsidiary books as the needs of their business may require: Provided, That were such subsidiaries are kept, they shall form part of the accounting system of the taxpayer and shall be subject to the same rules and regulations as to their keeping, translation, production and inspection as are applicable to the journal and the ledger.

Section 234. Language in which Books are to be Kept; Translation. – All such corporations, companies, partnerships or persons shall keep the books or records mentioned in Section 232 hereof in native language, English or Spanish: Provided, however, That if in addition to said books or records the taxpayer keeps other books or records in a language other than a native language, English or Spanish, he shall make a true and complete translation of all the entries in suck other books or records into a native language; English or Spanish, and the said translation must be made by the bookkeeper, or such taxpayer, or in his absence, by his manager and must be certified under oath as to its correctness by the said bookkeeper or manager, and shall form an integral part of the aforesaid books of accounts. The keeping of such books or records in any language other than a native language, English or Spanish, is hereby prohibited.

Section 235. Preservation of Books and Accounts and Other Accounting Records. – All the books of accounts, including the subsidiary books and other accounting records of corporations, partnerships, or persons, shall be preserved by them for a period beginning from the last entry in each book until the last day prescribed by Section 203 within which the Commissioner is authorized to make an assessment. The said books and records shall be subject to examination and inspection by internal revenue officers: Provided, That for income tax purposes, such examination and inspection shall be made only once in a taxable year, except in the following cases:

(a) Fraud, irregularity or mistakes, as determined by the Commissioner;

(b) The taxpayer requests reinvestigation;

(c) Verification of compliance with withholding tax laws and regulations;

(d) Verification of capital gains tax liabilities; and

(e) In the exercise of the Commissioner’s power under Section 5(B) to obtain information from other persons in which case, another or separate examination and inspection may be made. Examination and inspection of books of accounts and other accounting records shall be done in the taxpayer’s office or place of business or in the office of the Bureau of Internal Revenue. All corporations, partnerships or persons that retire from business shall, within ten (10) days from the date of retirement or within such period of time as may be allowed by the Commissioner in special cases, submit their books of accounts, including the subsidiary books and other accounting records to the Commissioner or any of his deputies for examination, after which they shall be returned. Corporations and partnerships contemplating dissolution must notify the Commissioner and shall not be dissolved until cleared of any tax liability.

Any provision of existing general or special law to the contrary notwithstanding, the books of accounts and other pertinent records of tax-exempt organizations or grantees of tax incentives shall be subject to examination by the Bureau of Internal Revenue for purposes of ascertaining compliance with the conditions under which they have been granted tax exemptions or tax incentives, and their tax liability, if any.

CHAPTER II – ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

Section 236. Registration Requirements. –

(A) Requirements. – Every person subject to any internal revenue tax shall register once with the appropriate Revenue District Officer:

(1) Within ten (10) days from date of employment, or

(2) On or before the commencement of business,or

(3) Before payment of any tax due, or

(4) Upon filing of a return, statement or declaration as required in this Code.

The registration shall contain the taxpayer’s name, style, place of residence, business and such other information as may be required by the Commissioner in the form prescribed therefor.

A person maintaining a head office, branch or facility shall register with the Revenue District Officer having jurisdiction over the head office, brand or facility. For purposes of this Section, the term ‘facility’ may include but not be limited to sales outlets, places of production, warehouses or storage places.

(B) Annual Registration Fee. – An annual registration fee in the amount of Five hundred pesos (P500) for every separate or distinct establishment or place of business, including facility types where sales transactions occur, shall be paid upon registration and every year thereafter on or before the last day of January: Provided, however, That cooperatives, individuals earning purely compensation income, whether locally or abroad, and overseas workers are not liable to the registration fee herein imposed.

The registration fee shall be paid to an authorized agent bank located within the revenue district, or to the Revenue Collection Officer, or duly authorized Treasurer of the city of municipality where each place of business or branch is registered.

(C) Registration of Each Type of Internal Revenue Tax. – Every person who is required to register with the Bureau of Internal Revenue under Subsection (A) hereof, shall register each type of internal revenue tax for which he is obligated, shall file a return and shall pay such taxes, and shall updates such registration of any changes in accordance with Subsection (E) hereof.

(D) Transfer of Registration. – In case a registered person decides to transfer his place of business or his head office or branches, it shall be his duty to update his registration status by filing an application for registration information update in the form prescribed therefor.

(E) Other Updates. – Any person registered in accordance with this Section shall, whenever applicable, update his registration information with the Revenue District Office where he is registered, specifying therein any change in type and other taxpayer details.

(F) Cancellation of Registration. – The registration of any person who ceases to be liable to a tax type shall be cancelled upon filing with the Revenue District Office where he is registered an application for registration information update in a form prescribed therefor.

(G) Persons Commencing Business. – Any person, who expects to realize gross sales or receipts subject to value-added tax in excess of the amount prescribed under Section 109(z) of this Code for the next 12-month period from the commencement of the business, shall register with the Revenue District Office which has jurisdiction over the head office or branch and shall pay the annual registration fee prescribed in Subsection (B) hereof.

(H) Persons Becoming Liable to the Value-added Tax. – Any person, whose gross sales or receipts in any 12-month period exceeds the amount prescribed under Subsection 109(z) of this Code for exemption from the value-added tax shall register in accordance with Subsection (A) hereof, and shall pay the annual registration fee prescribed within ten (10) days after the end of the last month of that period, and shall be liable to the value-added tax commencing from the first day of the month following his registration.

(I) Optional Registration of Exempt Person. – Any person whose transactions are exempt from value-added tax under Section 109(z) of this Code; or any person whose transactions are exempt from the value-added tax under Section 109(a), (b), (c), and (d) of this Code, who opts to register as a VAT taxpayer with respect to his export sales only, may update his registration information in accordance with Subsection (E) hereof, not later than ten (10) days before the beginning of the taxable quarter and shall pay the annual registration fee prescribed in Subsection (B) hereof.

In any case, the Commissioner may, for administrative reasons, deny any application for registration including updates prescribed under Subsection (E) hereof.

For purposes of Title IV of this Code, any person who has registered value-added tax as a tax type in accordance with the provisions of Subsection (C) hereof shall be referred to as VAT-registered person who shall be assigned only one Taxpayer Identification Number.

(J) Supplying of Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN). – Any person required under the authority of this Code to make, render or file a return, statement or other document shall be supplied with or assigned a Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) which he shall indicate in such return, statement or document filed with the Bureau of Internal Revenue for his proper identification for tax purposes, and which he shall indicate in certain documents, such as, but not limited to the following:

(1) Sugar quedans, refined sugar release order or similar instruments;

(2) Domestic bills of lading;

(3) Documents to be registered with the Register of Deeds of Assessor’s Office;

(4) Registration certificate of transportation equipment by land, sea or air;

(5) Documents to be registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission;

(6) Building construction permits;

(7) Application for loan with banks, financial institutions, or other financial intermediaries;

(8) Application for mayor’s permit;

(9) Application for business license with the Department of Trade & Industry; and

(10) Such other documents which may hereafter be required under rules and regulations to be promulgated by the Secretary of Finance, upon recommendation of the Commissioner.

In cases where a registered taxpayer dies, the administrator or executor shall register the estate of the decedent in accordance with Subsection (A) hereof and a new Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) shall be supplied in accordance with the provisions of this Section.

In the case of a nonresident decedent, the executor or administrator of the estate shall register the estate with the Revenue District Office where he is registered: Provided, however, That in case such executor or administrator is not registered, registration of the estate shall be made with the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) supplied by the Revenue District Office having jurisdiction over his legal residence.

Only one Taxpayer identification Number (TIN) shall be assigned to a taxpayer. Any person who shall secure more than one Taxpayer Identification Number shall be criminally liable under the provision of Section 275 on ‘Violation of Other Provisions of this Code or Regulations in General’.

Section 237. Issuance of Receipts or Sales or Commercial Invoices. – All persons subject to an internal revenue tax shall, for each sale or transfer of merchandise or for services rendered valued at Twenty-five pesos (P25.00) or more, issue duly registered receipts or sales or commercial invoices, prepared at least in duplicate, showing the date of transaction, quantity, unit cost and description of merchandise or nature of service: Provided, however, That in the case of sales, receipts or transfers in the amount of One hundred pesos (P100.00) or more, or regardless of the amount, where the sale or transfer is made by a person liable to value-added tax to another person also liable to value-added tax; or where the receipt is issued to cover payment made as rentals, commissions, compensations or fees, receipts or invoices shall be issued which shall show the name, business style, if any, and address of the purchaser, customer or client: Provided, further, That where the purchaser is a VAT-registered person, in addition to the information herein required, the invoice or receipt shall further show the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) of the purchaser.

The original of each receipt or invoice shall be issued to the purchaser, customer or client at the time the transaction is effected, who, if engaged in business or in the exercise of profession, shall keep and preserve the same in his place of business for a period of three (3) years from the close of the taxable year in which such invoice or receipt was issued, while the duplicate shall be kept and preserved by the issuer, also in his place of business, for a like period.

The Commissioner may, in meritorious cases, exempt any person subject to internal revenue tax from compliance with the provisions of this Section.

Section 238. Printing of Receipts or Sales or Commercial Invoices. – All persons who are engaged in business shall secure from the Bureau of Internal Revenue an authority to print receipts or sales or commercial invoices before a printer can print the same.

No authority to print receipts or sales or commercial invoices shall be granted unless the receipts or invoices to be printed are serially numbered and shall show, among other things, the name, business style, Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) and business address of the person or entity to use the same, and such other information that may be required by rules and regulations to be promulgated by the Secretary of Finance, upon recommendation of the Commissioner.

All persons who print receipt or sales or commercial invoices shall maintain a logbook/register of taxpayers who availed of their printing services. The logbook/register shall contain the following information:

(1) Names, Taxpayer Identification Numbers of the persons or entities for whom the receipts or sales or commercial invoices were printed; and

(2) Number of booklets, number of sets per booklet, number of copies per set and the serial numbers of the receipts or invoices in each booklet.

Section 239. Sign to be Exhibited by Distiller, Rectifier, Compounder, Repacker and Wholesale Liquor Dealer. – Every person engaged in distilling or rectifying spirits, compounding liquors, repacking wines or distilled spirits, and every wholesale liquor dealer shall keep conspicuously on the outside of his place of business a sign exhibiting, in letters not less than six centimeters (6 cms.) high, his name or firm style, with the words ‘Registered Distiller,’ ‘Rectifier of Spirits,’ ‘Compounder of Liquors,’ ‘Repacker of Wines or Distilled Spirits,’ or ‘Wholesale Liquor Dealer,’ as the case may be, and his assessment number.

Section 240. Sign to be exhibited by manufacturer of Products of Tobacco. – Every manufacturer of cigars, cigarettes or tobacco, and every wholesale dealer in leaf tobacco or manufactured products of tobacco shall place and keep on outside of the building wherein his business is carried on, so that it can be distinctly seen, a sign stating his full name and business in letters not less than six centimeters (6 cms.) high and also giving his assessment number.

Section 241. Exhibition of Certificate of Payment at Place of Business. – The certificate or receipts showing payment of taxes issued to a person engaged in a business subject to an annual registration fee shall be kept conspicuously exhibited in plain view in or at the place where the business is conducted; and in case of a peddler or other persons not having a fixed place of business, shall be kept in the possession of the holder thereof, subject to production upon demand of any internal revenue officer.

Section 242. Continuation of Business of Deceased Person. – When any individual who has paid the annual registration fee dies, and the same business is continued by the person or persons interested in his estate, no additional payment shall be required for the residue of the term which the tax was paid: Provided, however, That the person or persons interested in the estate should, within thirty (30) days from the death of the decedent, submit to the Bureau of Internal Revenue or the regional or revenue District Office inventories of goods or stocks had at the time of such death.

The requirement under this Section shall also be applicable in the case of transfer of ownership or change of name of the business establishment.

Section 243. Removal of Business to Other Location. – Any business for which the annual registration fee has been paid may, subject to the rules and regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Finance, upon recommendation of the Commissioner, be removed and continued in any other place without the payment of additional tax during the term for which the payment was made.

CHAPTER III – RULES AND REGULATIONS

Section 244. Authority of Secretary of Finance to Promulgate Rules and Regulations. – The Secretary of Finance, upon recommendation of the Commissioner, shall promulgate all needful rules and regulations for the effective enforcement of the provisions of this Code.

Section 245. Specific Provisions to be Contained in Rules and Regulations. – The rules and regulations of the Bureau of Internal Revenue shall, among other thins, contain provisions specifying, prescribing or defining:

(a) The time and manner in which Revenue Regional Director shall canvass their respective Revenue Regions for the purpose of discovering persons and property liable to national internal revenue taxes, and the manner in which their lists and records of taxable persons and taxable objects shall be made and kept;

(b) The forms of labels, brands or marks to be required on goods subject to an excise tax, and the manner in which the labelling, branding or marking shall be effected;

(c) The conditions under which and the manner in which goods intended for export, which if not exported would be subject to an excise tax, shall be labelled, branded or marked;

(d) The conditions to be observed by revenue officers respecting the institutions and conduct of legal actions and proceedings;

(e) The conditions under which goods intended for storage in bonded warehouses shall be conveyed thither, their manner of storage and the method of keeping the entries and records in connection therewith, also the books to be kept by Revenue Inspectors and the reports to be made by them in connection with their supervision of such houses;

(f) The conditions under which denatured alcohol may be removed and dealt in, the character and quantity of the denaturing material to be used, the manner in which the process of denaturing shall be effected, so as to render the alcohol suitably denatured and unfit for oral intake, the bonds to be given, the books and records to be kept, the entries to be made therein, the reports to be made to the Commissioner, and the signs to be displayed in the business ort by the person for whom such denaturing is done or by whom, such alcohol is dealt in;

(g) The manner in which revenue shall be collected and paid, the instrument, document or object to which revenue stamps shall be affixed, the mode of cancellation of the same, the manner in which the proper books, records, invoices and other papers shall be kept and entries therein made by the person subject to the tax, as well as the manner in which licenses and stamps shall be gathered up and returned after serving their purposes;

(h) The conditions to be observed by revenue officers respecting the enforcement of Title III imposing a tax on estate of a decedent, and other transfers mortis causa, as well as on gifts and such other rules and regulations which the Commissioner may consider suitable for the enforcement of the said Title III;

(i) The manner in which tax returns, information and reports shall be prepared and reported and the tax collected and paid, as well as the conditions under which evidence of payment shall be furnished the taxpayer, and the preparation and publication of tax statistics;

(j) The manner in which internal revenue taxes, such as income tax, including withholding tax, estate and donor’s taxes, value-added tax, other percentage taxes, excise taxes and documentary stamp taxes shall be paid through the collection officers of the Bureau of Internal Revenue or through duly authorized agent banks which are hereby deputized to receive payments of such taxes and the returns, papers and statements that may be filed by the taxpayers in connection with the payment of the tax: Provided, however, That notwithstanding the other provisions of this Code prescribing the place of filing of returns and payment of taxes, the Commissioner may, by rules and regulations, require that the tax returns, papers and statements that may be filed by the taxpayers in connection with the payment of the tax. Provided, however, That notwithstanding the other provisions of this Code prescribing the place of filing of returns and payment of taxes, the Commissioner may, by rules and regulations require that the tax returns, papers and statements and taxes of large taxpayers be filed and paid, respectively, through collection officers or through duly authorized agent banks: Provided, further, That the Commissioner can exercise this power within six (6) years from the approval of Republic Act No. 7646 or the completion of its comprehensive computerization program, whichever comes earlier: Provided, finally, That separate venues for the Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao areas may be designated for the filing of tax returns and payment of taxes by said large taxpayers.

For the purpose of this Section, ‘large taxpayer’ means a taxpayer who satisfies any of the following criteria;

(1) Value-Added Tax (VAT) – Business establishment with VAT paid or payable of at least One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000) for any quarter of the preceding taxable year;

(2) Excise tax – Business establishment with excise tax paid or payable of at least One million pesos (P1,000,000) for the preceding taxable year;

(3) Corporate Income Tax – Business establishment with annual income tax paid or payable of at least One million pesos (P1,000,000) for the preceding taxable year; and

(4) Withholding tax – Business establishment with withholding tax payment or remittance of at least One million pesos (P1,000,000) for the preceding taxable year.

Provided, however, That the Secretary of Finance, upon recommendation of the Commissioner, may modify or add to the above criteria for determining a large taxpayer after considering such factors as inflation, volume of business, wage and employment levels, and similar economic factors.

The penalties prescribed under Section 248 of this Code shall be imposed on any violation of the rules and regulations issued by the Secretary of Finance, upon recommendation of the Commissioner, prescribing the place of filing of returns and payments of taxes by large taxpayers.

Section 246. Non- Retroactivity of Rulings. – Any revocation, modification or reversal of any of the rules and regulations promulgated in accordance with the preceding Sections or any of the rulings or circulars promulgated by the Commissioner shall not be given retroactive application if the revocation, modification or reversal will be prejudicial to the taxpayers, except in the following cases:

(a) Where the taxpayer deliberately misstates or omits material facts from his return or any document required of him by the Bureau of Internal Revenue;

(b) Where the facts subsequently gathered by the Bureau of Internal Revenue are materially different from the facts on which the ruling is based; or

(c) Where the taxpayer acted in bad faith.

TITLE X

STATUTORY OFFENSES AND PENALTIES

CHAPTER I – ADDITIONS TO THE TAX

Section 247. General Provisions. –

(a) The additions to the tax or deficiency tax prescribed in this Chapter shall apply to all taxes, fees and charges imposed in this Code. The Amount so added to the tax shall be collected at the same time, in the same manner and as part of the tax.

(b) If the withholding agent is the Government or any of its agencies, political subdivisions or instrumentalities, or a government-owned or controlled corporation, the employee thereof responsible for the withholding and remittance of the tax shall be personally liable for the additions to the tax prescribed herein.

(c) the term ‘person’, as used in this Chapter, includes an officer or employee of a corporation who as such officer, employee or member is under a duty to perform the act in respect of which the violation occurs.

Section 248. Civil Penalties. –

(A) There shall be imposed, in addition to the tax required to be paid, a penalty equivalent to twenty-five percent (25%) of the amount due, in the following cases:

(1) Failure to file any return and pay the tax due thereon as required under the provisions of this Code or rules and regulations on the date prescribed; or

(2) Unless otherwise authorized by the Commissioner, filing a return with an internal revenue officer other than those with whom the return is required to be filed; or

(3) Failure to pay the deficiency tax within the time prescribed for its payment in the notice of assessment; or

(4) Failure to pay the full or part of the amount of tax shown on any return required to be filed under the provisions of this Code or rules and regulations, or the full amount of tax due for which no return is required to be filed, on or before the date prescribed for its payment.

(B) In case of willful neglect to file the return within the period prescribed by this Code or by rules and regulations, or in case a false or fraudulent return is willfully made, the penalty to be imposed shall be fifty percent (50%) of the tax or of the deficiency tax, in case, any payment has been made on the basis of such return before the discovery of the falsity or fraud: Provided, That a substantial underdeclaration of taxable sales, receipts or income, or a substantial overstatement of deductions, as determined by the Commissioner pursuant to the rules and regulations to be promulgated by the Secretary of Finance, shall constitute prima facie evidence of a false or fraudulent return: Provided, further, That failure to report sales, receipts or income in an amount exceeding thirty percent (30%) of that declared per return, and a claim of deductions in an amount exceeding (30%) of actual deductions, shall render the taxpayer liable for substantial underdeclaration of sales, receipts or income or for overstatement of deductions, as mentioned herein.

Section 249. Interest. –

(A) In General. – There shall be assessed and collected on any unpaid amount of tax, interest at the rate of twenty percent (20%) per annum, or such higher rate as may be prescribed by rules and regulations, from the date prescribed for payment until the amount is fully paid.

(B) Deficiency Interest. – Any deficiency in the tax due, as the term is defined in this Code, shall be subject to the interest prescribed in Subsection (A) hereof, which interest shall be assessed and collected from the date prescribed for its payment until the full payment thereof.

(C) Delinquency Interest. – In case of failure to pay:

(1) The amount of the tax due on any return to be filed, or

(2) The amount of the tax due for which no return is required, or

(3) A deficiency tax, or any surcharge or interest thereon on the due date appearing in the notice and demand of the Commissioner, there shall be assessed and collected on the unpaid amount, interest at the rate prescribed in Subsection (A) hereof until the amount is fully paid, which interest shall form part of the tax.

(D) Interest on Extended Payment. – If any person required to pay the tax is qualified and elects to pay the tax on installment under the provisions of this Code, but fails to pay the tax or any installment hereof, or any part of such amount or installment on or before the date prescribed for its payment, or where the Commissioner has authorized an extension of time within which to pay a tax or a deficiency tax or any part thereof, there shall be assessed and collected interest at the rate hereinabove prescribed on the tax or deficiency tax or any part thereof unpaid from the date of notice and demand until it is paid.

Section 250. Failure to File Certain Information Returns. – In the case of each failure to file an information return, statement or list, or keep any record, or supply any information required by this Code or by the Commissioner on the date prescribed therefor, unless it is shown that such failure is due to reasonable cause and not to willful neglect, there shall, upon notice and demand by the Commisssioner, be paid by the person failing to file, keep or supply the same, One thousand pesos (1,000) for each failure: Provided, however, That the aggregate amount to be imposed for all such failures during a calendar year shall not exceed Twenty-five thousand pesos (P25,000).

Section 251. Failure of a Withholding Agent to Collect and Remit Tax. – Any person required to withhold, account for, and remit any tax imposed by this Code or who willfully fails to withhold such tax, or account for and remit such tax, or aids or abets in any manner to evade any such tax or the payment thereof, shall, in addition to other penalties provided for under this Chapter, be liable upon conviction to a penalty equal to the total amount of the tax not withheld, or not accounted for and remitted.

Section 252. Failure of a Withholding Agent to refund Excess Withholding Tax. – Any employer/withholding agent who fails or refuses to refund excess withholding tax shall, in addition to the penalties provided in this Title, be liable to a penalty to the total amount of refunds which was not refunded to the employee resulting from any excess of the amount withheld o