Chapter 3-Income Tax
Chapter 3-Income Tax
The tax concept of income is simply referred to as “gross income” under the NIRC.
A taxable item of income is referred to as an “item of gross income” or “inclusion
in gross income”.
Gross income simply means taxable income in layman’s term. Under the NIRC
however, the term “taxable income” refers to certain items of gross income less
deductions and personal exemptions allowable by law. Technically, gross income is
broader too pertain to any income that can be subjected to income tax.
Gross income is broadly defined as any inflow of wealth to the taxpayer from
whatever source, legal or illegal, that increases net worth. It includes income from
employment, trade, business or exercises of profession, income from properties, and
other sources such as dealings in properties and other regular or casual transactions.
ELEMENTS OF GROSS INCOME
RETURN ON CAPITAL
Illustration
ABC purchase goods for P300 and sold them for P500. The P500 consideration
can be analyzed as follows:
Selling price (total consideration received) 500 Total return
Cost (value of inventory forgone) 300 Return of capital
Mark-up (gross income) ₱ 200 Return on capital
The return on capital that increases net worth is income subject to income tax.
Return of capital merely maintains net worth; hence, it is not taxable. An
improvement in net worth indicates ability to pay tax.
Capital items deemed with infinite value
Examples:
1. Life
2. Health
3. Human reputation
Life
The value of life is immeasurable by money. Under Sec. 32 of the NIRC, the
proceeds of life insurance policies paid to the heirs or beneficiaries upon
death of the insured, whether in a single sum or otherwise, are exempt from
income tax.
However, the following are taxable return on capital from insurance policies:
a. Any excess amount received over premiums paid by the insured upon
surrender or maturity of the policy (i.e. the insured outlives the policy.)
b. Gain realized by the insured from the assignment or sale of his insurance
policy.
c. Interest income from the unpaid balance of the proceeds of the policy
d. Any excess of the proceeds received over the acquisition costs and
premium payments by an assignee of a life insurance policy.
Health
Human Reputation
Mang Tomas insured his strawberry crop in a P200,000 crop insurance coverage against calamities.
The crop was eventually destroyed by an unusual frost. Mang Tomas was paid the P200,000
insurance proceeds.
The P200,000 proceeds which is a reimbursement for the lost value of the future harvest, is an item of gross
income. The value of the lost crops is, in effect, realized not through actual harvest but through the insurance
contract.
Illustration 2
Mr. Santiago purchased a franchise. The franchisor guaranteed an annual franchise income of
P100,000 to Mr. Santiago. In the first year of operation, Mr. Santiago’s outlet only earned P60,000.
The franchisor paid the P40,000 difference to Mr. Santiago.
The P40,000 guarantee payment is not a gratuity but a recovery of lost profit for Mr. Santiago; hence,
subject to income tax Mr. Santiago shall report P100,000 as franchise income.
Illustration 3
Mindoro Inc. experienced an unusual decline in its income after a competitor copied its patented
invention. Mindoro sued the competitor for patent infringement and was awarded an indemnity of
P3,000,000.
The P3,000,000 indemnities are a compensation for the income not realized by Mindoro due to the patent
infringement. The same is an item of gross income.
The recovery of lost income or profits is not intended to compensate for the loss of capital. It is as good as
realization of income; hence, it is an item of gross income.
REALIZED BENEFIT
If the taxpayer is entitled to keep for his account portion of a receipt, only
that portion is a benefit.
Illustration
Under current usage, unilateral transfers are simply referred to as “transfers” while
bilateral transfers are called “exchanges”. Benefits derived from onerous transactions are
“earned or realized”; hence, they are subject to income tax. Benefits derived from
gratuitous transactions are not realized because of the absence of an earning process.
Benefits derived from gratuitous transactions are subject to transfer tax, not income tax.
3. Complex transactions
Complex transactions are partly gratuitous and partly onerous. These are
commonly referred to as “transfers for less than full and adequate consideration”.
The gratuitous portion of the transaction is subject to transfer tax while the benefit
from the onerous portion is subject to income tax.
Illustration
A taxpayer sold his car which was previously purchased for P100,000 and with a
current fair value of P180,000 for only P130,000.
The excess of fair value over selling price is a gratuity or gift whereas the excess
of the selling price over the cost is an item of gross income.
What is meant by another entity?
The increase in wealth of the taxpayer in the form of appreciation or increase in the value
of his properties or decrease in the value of his obligations in the absence of a sale or barter
transaction is not taxable.
These are referred to as unrealized gains or holding gains because they have not yet
materialized in an exchange transaction.
Rendering of services
The rendering of services for a consideration is an exchange but does not cause a loss of
capital. Hence, the entire consideration received from rendering of services such as
compensation income or service fees is an item of gross income.
Illustration
Note:
1. Gains from gambling and the forgiveness of debt in consideration of services or properties received are
realized gains from exchanges.
2. The forgiveness of debt out of affection or mere generosity of the creditor is a gratuitous transfer subject to
transfer tax.
3. The loan received from a bank constitutes a transfer but is not a benefit.
Basis of Exemption of Unrealized Income
2. Constructive receipt
Constructive receipt involves no actual physical taking of the income
but the taxpayer is effectively benefited.
Examples:
a. Offset of debt of the taxpayer in consideration for the sale of goods or
service
b. Deposit of the income to the taxpayer’s checking account
c. Matured detachable interest coupons on coupon bonds not yet encashed
by the taxpayer
d. Increase in the capital of a partner from the partner from the profit of the
partnership
Inflow of wealth without increase in net worth
Examples:
a. Receipt of property in trust
b. Borrowing of money under an obligation to return
The following items of income are exempted by the law from taxation;
hence, they are not considered items of gross income:
A. Individuals
1. Citizen
a. Resident citizen
b. Non-resident citizen
2. Alien
a. Resident alien
b. Non-resident alien
i. Engaged in trade or business
ii. Not engaged in trade or business
B. Corporations
1. Domestic corporation
2. Foreign corporation
a. Resident foreign corporation
b. Non-resident foreign corporation
INDIVIDUAL INCOME TAXPAYERS
Citizens
Under the Constitution, citizens are:
a. Those who are citizens of the Philippines at the time of
adoption of the Constitution on February 2, 1987
b. Those whose fathers or mothers are citizens of the
Philippines
c. Those born before January 17, 1973 of Filipino
mothers who elected Filipino citizen upon reaching the
age of majority
d. Those who are not naturalized in accordance with the
law
Classification of citizens:
A. Resident alien – an individual who is residing in the Philippines but is not citizen
thereof, such as:
1. An alien who lives in the Philippines without definite intention as to his stay; or
2. One who comes to the Philippines for a definite purpose which in its nature would
require an extended stay and to that end makes his home temporarily in the
Philippines, although it may be his intention at all times to return to his domicile
abroad;
An alien who has acquired residence in the Philippines retains his status as such until he
abandons the same or actually departs from the Philippines.
1. Intention
The intention of the taxpayer regarding the nature of his stay within or outside the
Philippines shall determine his appropriate residency classification. The taxpayer shall
submit to the CIR of the BIR documentary proofs such as visas, work contracts and
other documents indicating such intention.
Documents purporting short term stay such as tourist visa shall not result in the
reclassification of the taxpayer’s normal residency. Documents purporting a long-term
stay such as immigration visa or working visa for an extended period would result in
the automatic reclassification of the taxpayer’s residency.
Examples:
a. An alien is normally non-resident. An alien who come to the Philippines with a
tourist visa would still be classified as non-resident alien.
b. A citizen is normally resident. A citizen who would go abroad under a tourist
visa would still be considered a resident citizen.
c. An alien who come to the Philippines with an immigration visa would be
reclassified as a resident alien upon his arrival.
d. A citizen who would go abroad with two-year working visa would be reclassified
as a non-resident citizen upon his departure.
2. Length of stay
Luiz Mario Aresmendi, a Mexican actor, was contracted by Philippine television company to do a
project in the Philippines. He arrived in the country on February 29, 2019 and returned to Mexico
three weeks later upon completion of the project.
Luiz Mario Aresmendi shall be classified as an NRA-NETB in 2019. His stay is for a definite purpose
which in its nature will be accomplished immediately.
Illustration 2
Mamoud Jibril, a Libyan national, arrived in the country on November 4, 2019. Mr. Jibril stayed in the
Philippines since then without any working visa or work permit.
For the year 2019, Mr. Jibril would be considered on NRA-NETB because he stayed in the Philippines
for less than 180 days as of December 31, 2019. If he is still within the Philippines until December 31,
2020, he will qualify as a resident alien for 2020.
Illustration 3
Without any definite intention as to the nature of his stay, Juan Masipag, a Filipino citizen, left the
Philippines and stayed abroad from March 15, 2019 to April 1, 2020 before returning to the
Philippines.
For the year 2019, Juan is a non-resident citizen because he us absent for more than 183 days but he
will be classified as resident citizen for the year 2020 because he is absent for less than 183 days in
2020.
Taxable Estates and Trusts
1. Estate
Estate refers to the properties, rights, and obligations of a deceased person not extinguished by his death.
Estates under judicial settlement are treated as individual taxpayers. The estate is taxable on the income of the
properties left by the decedent. Estates under extrajudicial settlement are exempt entities. The income of the
properties of the estate under extrajudicial settlement is taxable to the heirs.
2. Trust
A trust is an arrangement whereby one person (grantor or trustor) transfers (i.e. donates) property to another
person (beneficiary), which will be held under the management of a third party (trustee or fiduciary)
A trust that is irrevocably designated by the grantor is treated in taxation as if it is an individual taxpayer. The
income of the property held in trust is taxable to the trust. Trusts that are designated as revocable by the
grantor are not taxable entities and are not considered as individual taxpayers. The income of properties held
under revocable trusts is taxable to the grantor not to the trust.
When the trust agreement is silent as to revocability of the trust, the trust is presumed to be revocable.
CORPORATE INCOME TAXPAYERS
Domestic Corporation
Note:
1. A corporation that incorporates in the Philippines is a domestic corporation under the
Incorporation Test even if the same is controlled by foreigners.
2. A foreign corporation that transacts business with residents through a resident branch
is taxable on such transaction as a resident foreign corporation through its branch.
However, if it transacts directly to residents outside its branch, it is taxable as a non-
resident foreign corporation on the direct transactions.
Special Corporations
Special corporations are domestic or foreign corporations which are subject to special tax
rules or preferential tax rates.
OTHER CORPORATE TAXPAYERS
1. Partnership
Types of Partnership
a. General professional partnership (GPP)
A GPP is a partnership formed for the exercise of a common profession. All
partners must belong to the same profession.
b. Business partnership
A business partnership is one formed for profit. It taxable as a corporation.
2. Joint Venture
A joint is a business undertaking for a particular purpose. It may be
organized as a partnership or a corporation.
Resident citizen
Non-resident citizen
Resident alien
Non-resident alien
Corporate taxpayers
Domestic corporation
Resident foreign
corporation
Non-resident foreign
corporation
The issue of international double taxation
Place of taxation
Types of income
(situs)
Interest income Debtor’s residence
Location of the
Rent income
property
Applying the situs rules, the following are the situs of the aforementioned income:
If ABC Corporation is a:
1. Domestic corporation – the entire ₱400,000 is earned within
2. Non-resident foreign corporation – the entire ₱400,000 is earned abroad
3. Resident foreign corporation – the ₱400,000 dividend shall be split