Philippine Mining Service Corporation vs. Commissioner of Internal Revenue

DECISION

MANAHAN,J.:

THE CASE

In this Petition for Review filed on February 2, 2018, petitioner Philippine Mining Service Corporation (PMSC) prays for the Court to grant the refund or issue a tax credit certificate in the total amount of 1>24,643,307.43, representing the remaining unutilized and/ or unapplied and excess input value added-tax (VAT) attributable to its zero-rated sales and/ or unapplied and excess input VAT attributable to its zero-rated sales for the period covering January 1, 20 18 to December 31, 2018.1

THE PARTIES

PMSC is a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the Republic of the Philippines. Its present office address is at 5th Floor Mercedes-Benz Tower, Mindanao Avenue, Cebu Business Park, Cebu City. It may be served with the Court's notices and other court processes through its legal counsel, Platon Martinez Flores San Pedro and Leaiio Law

Offices, located at 6/F Tuscan Building, 114 V.A. Rufino Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City, Metro Manila.2 PMSC was registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission on 16 June 1980, with the primary purpose of entering "into a service contract with Dolomite Mining Corporation in accordance with law for financial, technical, management, and other forms of assistance relative to the exploration, development, exploitation or utilization of the dolomite mining claims of said corporation in the Province of Cebu, including the marketing of such dolomite and its products, and for this purpose to the extent permitted by law to import, purchase, install, construct and/ or operate such mills, factories, building, machinery, equipment, structures and works of all kinds, facilities, tools, ships, vessels, lighters, submarines, docks, piers, warehouses, storage and shipping facilities, instruments and apparatus and other properties as may be necessary or convenient for carrying on the business of the corporation, and to pay or receive payment for the foregoing either on cash or in stock, bonds, debentures, or other securities."3 Petitioner is further organized to, among other secondary and incidental purposes and powers, "buy, process, refine, prepare for market, sell at wholesale, export, transport and otherwise deal in and with dolomite ore, limestone ore, and other minerals of whatever nature and their by-products."4 Respondent is the duly appointed Commissioner of Internal Revenue (CIR) who is tasked to assess and collect all national internal revenue taxes, fees, and charges, and enforce all forfeitures, penalties, and fines connected therewith, with authority, among others, to decide, approve, and grant tax credits and/or refunds of unutilized/excess input VAT. Respondent holds office at the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) National Office Building, BIR Road, Diliman, Quezon City where he may be served with summons and other processes of this Honorable Court. s 2 Par. 1, Admitted Facts, Joint Stipulation of Facts and Issues (JSFI), Docket - Vol. I, p. 318.

CTA Case No. 1026 1

ANTECEDENTS (ADMINISTRATIVE LEVEL)

On November 8 , 2019, PMSC filed with the VAT Credit Audit Division of the BIR (BIR VCAD) an Application for Tax Credits/Refund (BIR Form No. 1914), to request for the refund of the total amount of P133,915,901.59 covering the period from January 1, 2018 to December 31 , 2018.6 In accordance with the first paragraph of Section 112(C) of the Tax Code and RMC 47-2019, the CIR h ad ninety (90) days from petitioner's submission of complete documents, or until February 3, 2020 , to decide on PMSC's claim for tax refund.7 On January 9 , 2020 , or before the lapse of the 90-day period, the duly-authorized representative of the CIR, Deputy Commissioner- Operations Group Arnel S.D. Guballa (DCIR- OG Guballa) issued a decision partially granting and denying PMSC's claim in the amount of P99,146,898.93 (VAT Refund Notice). PMSC received the decision of DCIR-OG Guballa on January 23, 2020.8 The CIR disallowed the amount of P34,769,002.66 from PMSC's claim, to wit:

Total amount of claim p 133,9 15,901.59 Deductions from claim Less: Non-com plia nce with invoicing p (6,023, 907 .45) requirements Big-ticket disallowances p (3,026,553.52) ITS verification p (42, 9 16.81) Deferred input tax (DIT) not p (949,582. 7 1) reflected in the VAT returns Overclaimed inpu t tax per BIR p (68,884.02) Form No. 191 4 as against QVRs Additional DIT from purchases of p (6,0 15,536.9 1) capital goods exceeding P 1M Ou tpu t VAT on related pa rty p (598,545.57) tra nsactions

Final withholding VAT on related p (2,094,345.36) party transactions Allocated input VAT on exports p (15,923,730.32) sales with insufficient documentations Compromise penalty for supplying p (25,000.00) incorrect information in the QVRs Total deductions from claim p (34,769,002.66) Total amount approved for refund p 99,146,898.939

PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THIS COURT

PMSC filed the instant Petition for Review on February 2 1, 2020,10 assailing only the disallowance in the amount of P24,643,307 .43.11 On September 14, 2020, the CIR posted his Answer, 12 wherein he interposed the following special and affirmative defenses:

"SPECIAL AND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSES

XXX

XXX

XXX

6.

Petitioner avers that its purchase of taxable goods and services for the calendar year 2018 qualify as zero-rated sales under Section 1 08(B)(2) of the NIRC of 1997, as amended, which reads:

'SEC. 108. Value-added Tax on Sale

of Services

and

Use of Lease

of Properties.-

(A)

XXX XXX XXX

(B)

Transactions subject to Zero Percent (0°/o) Rate. - The following services performed in the Philippines

by VAT-

registered persons shall be subject to zero percent (0°/o) rate:

1)

XXX XXX XXX

2)

Services

other than those mentioned in the preceding paragraph rendered to a person engaged in business conducted outside the Philippines or to a nonresident person not engaged in business who is outside the Philippines when the services are performed, the consideration for which is paid for in acceptable foreign currency and accounted for · in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).' 7.

In Commissioner of Internal Revenue v.

Burmeister and Wain

Scandinavian

Contractor

Mindanao, Inc., the Supreme Court held that in order for the supply of services to be considered VAT zero-rated under Section 108(B)(2) of the NIRC of 1997, as amended, the following requisites must be satisfied:

1. the serv1ces by a VAT-registered person must be other than processing, manufacturing or repacking of goods;

2. the payment for such services must acceptable foreign currency accounted accordance with the

BSP

rules regulations; and be in for in; and

3. the recipient of such services is doing business outside the Philippines.

8.

Petitioner failed to discharge with the burden of complying with the second and third requisite.

9 .

As to the second requisite, petitioner failed to show proof of remittances of foreign currency from export sales of service. 10.

Petitioner

likewise failed to fully substantiate with documentary evidence all the services claimed to be rendered to its affiliate outside the Philippines. ~

11. With regard the third requisite, no sufficient proof was submitted to show that its affiliate to whom petitioner rendered services is not doing business in the Philippines.

12. To be considered as a non-resident foreign corporation doing business outside the Philippines, each entity must be supported, at the very least, by both a certificate of non -registration of corporation/partnership issued by the SEC and certificate I articles of foreign incorporation / association. These two (2) documents are necessary. The SEC's negative certification establishes that the recipient of the service has no registered business in the Philippines (i.e., not engaged in trade or business within the Philippines). On the other hand, the certificate I articles of incorporation/ association prove two things: ( 1) that the recipient of the service is indeed foreign, and (2) it is engaged in business in the country of incorporation/ association (i.e., a showing of a continuity of commercial dealings and intention to establish a continuous business). 13.

Petitioner

failed to submit sufficient documentary evidence to support that the services were rendered to an affiliate doing outside the Philippines.

14. Considering that petitioner failed to comply with the second and third requisite to qualify for VAT zero-rating. Consequently, the second requisite for the refund or tax credit input VAT under Section 112(A) of the NIRC of 1997, as amended, was also not satisfied.

15. Having failed to prove that purchases of taxable goods and services are zero-rated sales for the period 1 January 2018 to 31 December 2018, the alleged input VAT attributable thereto cannot be refu nded to petitioner.

16.

Further, in order that the claimed input VAT may be refunded, the same must be properly substantiated by VAT invoices or official receipts as prescribed under Section 110(A) and 113(A) and (B) of the NIRC of 1997, as amended, in relation to ~

Sections 4 .110-1, 4.110-8 and 4 .113-1 of Revenue Regulations (RR) No. 16-05, as amended.

XXX

XXX

xxx" The pre-trial conference was set13 and held on January 21 , 2021.14 Prior thereto, Respondent's Pre-Trial Briefwas filed on January 15, 2021;15 while PMSC's Pre-Trial Brief was submitted on January 18, 2021.16 On February 5, 2021, the parties filed their Joint Stipulation of Facts and Issues (JSFI).17 In the Resolution dated February 15, 202 1,18 the Court approved the said JSFI and deemed the termination of the Pre-Trial. Thereafter, the Pre- Trial Order dated May 26, 2021 was issued.19 The CIR transmitted the BIR Records of the instant case on February 11, 2022.20 During trial, PMSC presented the following witnesses: ( 1) Mr. Ian John M. Guillena,21 PMSC's Department Manager - Accounting Department of petitioner; (2) Mr. June Sun M. Pugoy,22 Section Manager-Accounting Department of PMSC; and Ms. Katherine 0 . Constantino,23 the Court-commissioned Independent Certified Public Accountant (ICPA).24 13 Notice of Pre-Trial Conference dated October 12, 2020, Docket- Vol. I. pp. 139 to 141. 14 Minutes of the hearing held on, and Order dated, J anuary 2 1, 202 1, Docket- Vol. I. pp. 3 0 5 to 307, and 308 to 30 9 , respectively. 1s Docket- Vol. I. pp. 145 to 147. 16 Docket- Vol. I, pp. 162 to 182. 11 Docket - Vol. I, pp. 3 18 to 323. 1s Docket- Vol. I, p. 4 12.

19 Docket- Vol. I, pp. 444 to 456. 2o Docket - Vol. I, pp. 632 to 634. 2 t Exhibit "P-8", Docket - Vol. I, pp. 187 to 196; Minutes of the hearing held on, and Order dated, May 4, 202 1, Docket - Vol. I, pp. 431 to 437, and 438 to 439, respectively; Exhibit "P-52238", Docket - Vol. I, pp. 612 to 6 17; Minutes of the hearing held on, and Order da ted, February 22, 2022, Docket- Vol. I, pp. 638 to 64 1, and 642 to 643.

22 Exhibit "P-9", Docket - Vol. I, pp. 263 to 279; Minutes of the hearing held on, and Order da ted, May 4, 202 1, Docket - Vol. I, pp. 43 1 to 437, and 438 to 439, respectively.

23 Exhibit "P-22", Docket- Vol. I, pp. 369 to 374; Order dated July 13, 202 1, Docket - Vol. I, pp. 46 1 to 462; Exhibit "P-23-B", Docket - Vol. I, pp. 556 to 564; Minutes of the hearing held on, and Order dated, December 7, 2 02 1, Docket- Vol. I, pp. 580 to 582, and 583 to 584 .

24 Oath of Commission (For a CPA Firm) da ted May 6, 2019 , and Minutes of the hearing held on, and Order da ted, May 6, 2019, Docket - Vol. I, pp. 555 to 557 ~

The Report of the said ICPA was submitted on October 27, 2021.25 PMSC filed its Formal Offer of Evidence on March 14, 2022.26 On March 16, 2022, the CIR filed his Comment (Re: Formal Offer of Evidence). 27 On April 22, 2022, the Court issued a Resolution28 partially admitting PMSC's evidence. On

May

26, 2022,

PMSC

filed its

Motion

for Reconsideration (of the Resolution dated 22 April 2022) with Motion to Set Case for Commissioner's Hearing, 29 without the CIR's comment.3o In the Resolution31 dated August 15, 2022, the Court partially admitted PMSC's exhibits. On September 9, 2022, PMSC filed a Tender of Excluded Evidence, 32 which was noted by the Court in its Resolution dated September 20, 2022.33 On the other hand, the CIR presented the following witnesses: (1) Ms. Mary Ann B. Estacio,34 Revenue Officer III and Examiner assigned at VCAD; and (2) Ms. Jelly Anne T. Mateo,35 Revenue Officer II assigned at the Tax Audit Review Division.

On October 19, 2022,36 the CIR filed his Formal Offer of Evidence, with PMSC's Comment/ Opposition (to Respondent's Formal Offer of Evidence dated 19 October 2022) posted on November 9, 2022.37 Subsequently, PMSC filed a Motion for Leave to File Amended Comment/ Opposition3B with attached

Amended Comment/ Opposition (to Respondent's Formal Offer of Evidence dated 19 October 2022)39 submitted on November 11, 2022. Said motion was granted in the Court's Resolution dated December 16, 2022.40 In th e Resolution41 dated Janu ary 18, 2023, the Court admitted all the exhibits formally offered by the CIR. On January 30, 2023, the CIR filed his Memorandum, 42 while on February 22, 2023, PMSC filed its Memorandum. 43 On March 13, 2023,44 the Court issued a Resolution submitting the case for decision. Hence, this Decision.

THE ISSUE RAISED BY THE PARTIES

The parties submitted this sole issue for the Court's resolution:

"Whether PMSC is entitled to tax refund for the alleged unutilized input

VAT

amounting to P24,643,307.43 for the taxable year 2018."45 PMSC's arguments:

PMSC argues that: (1) it has fully substantiated its claim for tax refu nd of unutilized input VAT attributable to zero- rated or effectively zero-rated sales; (2) the CIR made erroneous deductions to PMSC's claim for tax refund attributable to its zero-rated sales; (3) the cases filed in the Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) are litigated de novo. 39 Docket- Vol. II, pp. 963 to 967. 40 Docket- Vol. II, pp. 975 to 976. 41 Docket - Vol. II, pp. 978 to 979. 42 Docket- Vol. II, pp. 980 to 987. 43 Docket - Vol. II, pp. 989 to 1041. 44 Minute Resolution dated March 13, 2023, D~ Vol. II, p. 1043.

The CIR's counter-arguments:

The CIR counters that the instant petition must be dismissed for PMSC's failure to substantiate its administrative claim for refund and th at PMSC is not entitled to refund in the amount of P24,643,307 .43.

THE COURT'S RULING

The present Petition for Review is partly meritorious. PMSC's administrative refund claim originally involved the aggregate amount of P133,9 15,901.59.46 Out of the said amount, only the amount of P99,146,898.93 was granted by the CIR. 47 Meanwhile, out of the total disallowed amount of P34,769,002.66 from petitioner's claim, only the amount of P24,643,307.4348 is the subject of the instant claim, detailed as follows:

Item

Reason for disallowance/ Amount deducted deduct ion 1 Allocated input VAT on export sales p 15,923,730.23 2 Big ticket disallowance since the 0 R 1,207,419.49 date lS before

ATP

approval 3

Big

ticket disallowance;

non- 217,282.68 compliance with invoicing requirements due to missing sales invoice 4

Additional Deferred Input Tax (DIT)

4,250,946.88 from capital goods 5 DIT not reflected in VAT returns 949,582.71 6 Final Withholding VAT on related 2,094,345.36 party transactions Total amount of claim P24,643,307.3549 This Court shall now examine whether PMSC is entitled to its refund claim.

Requisites for the grant of the refund or issuance of tax credit certificate under the law Section 112 of the National Internal Revenue Code (NIRC) of 1997, as amended by Republic Act (RA) No. 10963,50 pertinently provides:

"SEC. 112. Refunds or Tax Credits of Input Tax.-

(A) Zero-Rated

or

Effectively

Zero-Rated

Sales. - Any VAT -registered person, whose sales are zero-rated or effectively zero-rated may, within two (2) years after the close of the taxable quarter when the sales were made, apply for the issuance of a tax credit certificate or refund of creditable input tax due or paid attributable to such sales, except transitional input tax, to the extent that such input tax has not been applied against output tax: Provided, however, That in the case of zero-rated sales under Section 106(A)(2)(a)(1), (2) and (b) and Section 108(B)(1) and (2), the acceptable foreign currency exchange proceeds thereof had been duly accounted for in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP): Provided, further, That where the taxpayer is engaged in zero-rated or effectively zero-rated sale and also in taxable or exempt sale of goods of properties or services, and the amount of creditable input tax due or paid cannot be directly and entirely attributed to any one of the transactions, it shall be allocated proportionately on the basis of the volume of sales: Provided, finally, That for a person making sales that are zero-rated under Section 108(B)(6), the input taxes shall be so AN ACT AMENDING SECTIONS 5, 6, 24, 25, 27, 31, 32, 33, 34, 51, 52, 56, 57, 58, 74, 79, 84, 86, 90, 91, 97, 99, 100, 101, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 112, 114, 116, 127, 128, 129, 145, 148, 149, 151, 155, 17 1, 174, 175, 177, 178, 179, 180, 181, 182, 183, 186, 188, 189, 190, 191, 192, 193, 194, 195, 196, 197, 232,236,237,249,254,264, 269, AND 288; CREATING NEW SECTIONS 5 1-A, 148-A, 150-A, 150-B, 237-A, 264-A, 264-B, AND 265-A; AND REPEALING SECTIONS 35, 62, AND 89; ALL UNDER REPUBLIC ACT 8424, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE NATIONAL INTERN!J.- REVENUE CODE OF 1997, AS AMENDED, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. ~

CTA Case No. 1026 1 allocated ratably between his zero-rated and non- zero-rated sales.

XXX

XXX

XXX

(C) Period within which Refund of Input Taxes shall be Made. - In proper cases, the Commissioner shall grant a refund for creditable input taxes within ninety (90) days from the date of submission of the official receipts or invoices and other documents in support of the application filed in accordance with Subsections (A) and (B) hereof: Provided, That should the Commissioner find that the grant of refund is not proper, the Commissioner must state in writing the legal and factual basis for the denial. In case of full or partial denial of the claim for tax refund, the taxpayer affected may, within thirty (30) days from the receipt of the decision denying the claim, appeal the decision with the Court of Tax Appeals: Provided, however, That failure on the part of any official, agent, or employee of the BIR to act on the application within the ninety (90)-day period shall be punishable under Section 269 of this Code." Based on the foregoing provision, jurisprudence has laid down the following requisites which the taxpayer-applicant must comply with to successfully obtain a credit/refund of input VAT:

As to the timeliness of the filing of the administrative and judicial claims:

1. the refund claim is filed with the BIR within two

(2) years after the close of the taxable quarter when the sales were made;51

2. in case of full or partial denial of the refund claim rendered within a period of ninety (90) days from s1 Intel Technology Philippines, Inc. v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, G.R. No. 166732, April 27, 2007; San Roque Power Corporation v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, G.R. No. 180345, November 25, 2009; and AT&T Communications Services Philippines, Inc., G.R. No. 182364, August 3, 2010.~

52 Ibid.

53 Ibid.

54 Ibid.

55 Ibid.

the date of submission of the official receipts or invoices and other documents in support of the application, the judicial claim shall be filed with this Court within thirty (30) days from receipt of the decision;

With reference to the taxpayer's registration

with the BIR:

3. the taxpayer is a VAT-registered person;52 In relation to the taxpayer's output VAT:

4. the taxpayer is engaged In zero-rated or effectively zero-rated sales;53

5. for zero-rated sales under Section 106(A)(2)(1) and (2); 1 06(B); and 1 08(B)( 1) and (2), the acceptable foreign currency exchange proceeds have been duly accounted for in accordance with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) rules and regulations; 54 As regards the taxpayer's input VAT being refunded:

6. the input taxes are not transitional input taxes;ss

7. the input taxes have not been applied against output taxes during and in the succeeding quarters. 56

8. the input taxes are due or paid;57 and

9. the input taxes claimed are attributable to zero- rated or effectively zero-rated sales. However, where there are both zero-rated or effectively zero-rated sales and taxable or exempt sales, and the input taxes cannot be directly and entirely 56 Ibid.

57 Jbid. ~ attributable to any of these sales, the input taxes shall be proportionately allocated on the basis of sales volume. ss In addition, in claims for VAT refund/credit, applicants must satisfy the substantiation and invoicing requirements under the

NIRC

and other implementing rules and regulations.s9 Thus, petitioner's compliance with all the VAT invoicing requirements is mandatory to be able to file a claim for input taxes attributable to zero-rated sales. 60 The invoicing and substantiation requirements should be followed because it is the only way to determine the veracity of the taxpayer's claims.61 Moreover, it must be pointed out that compliance with all the VAT invoicing requirements provided by tax laws and regulations is mandatory.62 Strict compliance with substantiation and invo1c1ng requirements is necessary considering VAT's nature and VAT system's tax credit method, where tax payments are based on output and input taxes and where the seller's output tax becomes the buyer's input tax that is available as tax credit or refund in the same transaction.

It ensures the proper collection of taxes at all stages of distribution, facilitates computation of tax credits, and provides accurate audit trail or evidence for BIR monitoring purposes. 63 Further, it must be emphasized that in cases filed before this Court, which are litigated de novo, party-litigants must prove every minute aspect of their case.64 Thus, it behooves petitioner to show compliance with each of the foregoing 58 Intel Technology Philippines, Inc. v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, supra; and San Roque Power Corporation v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, supra. 59 Team Energy Corporation v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, et seq., G.R. Nos. 197663 and 197770, March 14, 2018. 60 JRA Philippines, Inc. v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, G.R. No. 171307, August 28, 2013.

61 Nippon Express (Philippines) Corporation v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, G.R. No. 191495, July 23, 2018.

62 Eastern Telecommunications Philippines, Inc. v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, G.R. No. 183531, March 25, 2015.

63 Team Energy Corporation v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, et seq., supra. 64 Edison (Bataan) Cogeneration Corporation v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, etseq., G.R. Nos. 201665 and 201668, August 30, 2017; Commissioner of Internal Revenue

v. Philippine National Bank, G.R. No. 180290, September 29, 2014; Commissioner of Internal Revenue v. United Salvage and Towage (Phils.), Inc., G.R. No. 197515, July 2, 2014; Dizon v. Court of Tax Appeals, et al., G.R. No. 140944, April 30, 2008; Atlas Consolidated Mining and Development Corporation v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, G.R. No. 145526, March 16, 2007; and Commissioner of Internal Revenue v. Manila Mining Corporation, G.R. No. 153204, August 31, 2005. ~

CTA Case No. 1026 1 requisites.

As a corollary, the absence of any of the said requisites is already a valid ground to deny the refund claim. PMSC's administrative and judicial claims were timely filed To reiterate, the first requisite pertains to the filing of the refund claim for tax credit or refund of input VAT before the BIR, within two (2) years from the close of the quarter when the sales were made.

The present claim covers the 1st to 4th quarters of calendar year (CY) 2018.

Counting two (2) years from the close of the 1st to 4 th quarters of CY 2018, the respective last day for the filing of the administrative claim for the said four

(4) quarters are shown below:

Period

Close ofthe

Last Day to File

(l•t to 4th quarters of 2018)

Taxable Quarter

Administrative

Claim

J anu ary 1, 2018 to March 3 1,2018 March 3 1, 2018 March 3 1, 2020 April 1, 2018 to June 30, 2018 J une 30 , 2018 June 30, 2020 July 1, 2018 to September 30, 2018 September 30 , 2018 September 30, 2020 October 1, 2018 to December 3 1, 2018 December 31, 2018 December 3 1, 2020 Considering that PMSC's administrative claim for the said periods was filed on November 8 , 2019,65 the same was timely filed.

As regards the second requisite, the same requires that the judicial claim must have been filed within thirty (30) days from receipt of the CIR's decision or after the expiration of the 90-day period under Section 112(C) of the NIRC of 1997, as amended.

Thus, from the filing of PMSC's administrative claim on November 8 , 2019, the CIR had ninety (90) days or until February 6, 2020 to act on the said claim. Records show that on January 9 , 2020, or before the lapse of the 90-day period, the CIR, partially granted PMSC's claim through a VAT Refund

Notice,66 which was then received by PMSC on January 23, 2020. Thus, counting 30 days from January 23, 2020, PMSC had until February 22, 2020, within which to file its judicial claim. Evidently, PMSC seasonably filed the instant Petition for Review on February 21, 2020. 67 Hence, PMSC has shown compliance with the said first and second requisites.

PMSC is a

VAT-registered

person.

As to the third requisite, the parties admitted the fact that PMSC is registered as a VAT taxpayer, with Tax Identification No.

(TIN)

No.

000-136-814-000 and OCN

2RC0001045342 issued on October 27, 1991.68

PMSC

had zero-rated or effectively zero-rated sales during the four (4) quarters ofCY 2018 The fourth and fifth requisites, respectively, require that: ( 1) the taxpayer is engaged in zero-rated or effectively zero- rated sales; and (2) for zero-rated sales under Section 106(A)(2)(a)(1), (2) and (b), and Section 108(8)(1) and (2) of the NIRC of 1997, as amended, the acceptable foreign currency exchange proceeds have been duly accounted for in accordance with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) rules and regulations.

In its Amended Quarterly VAT Returns for the four (4) quarters of CY 2018, PMSC declared zero-rated sales/receipts in the total amount of P1,391,57 1,100.05, broken down as follows:

66 JSFI, Admitted Facts, par. 8, Docket- Vol. I, p. 320; Exhibits "P4" and "R-5", Docket -Vol. II, pp. 722 to 751.

67 Docket- Vol. I, pp. 7 to 33.

68 JSFI, Admitted Facts, par. 4, Docket- Vol. I, p. 319; Exhibit "P-2", Docket - Vol. II, p. 714.~

Period Covered

1st Quarter 2nd Quarter 3rd Quarter 4th Quarter

Exhibit

Zero-Rated Sales

"P-6-B", Line 1769 , 348,708,575.72 "P-6-E", Line 1710 330,101,018.30 "P-6-H", Line 1711 380,429,558.07 "P-6-K", Line 1712 332,331,947.96

Total

f'1,391,571,100.05 The CIR's verification of the documents submitted by PMSC at the administrative level disclosed the following findings:73 "1.

Direct

export sales amounted to P727,514,432.27 and the proceeds of which were inwardly remitted and accounted for in accordance with the BSP rules and regulations. The proof of actual exportations and foreign currency remittances for export sales were verified. The export sales were in accordance with the provisions of Sec. 106 (A)(2)(a)(1) of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended, and the claim for VAT Refund was made in accordance with Sec. 112(A) of the same tax code. Effectively zero-rated sales pursuant to Sec. 106(A)(2)(a)(5) of the NIRC, as amended, amounted to P664,056,667.52. This represents sales to PEZA registered enterprises and the PEZA Certifications were verified through its QR Code.

XXX

XXX

XXX

2 .

The term "zero-rated" is printed prominently on the invoices pursuant to Sec. 113 (B) (2) (c) of the NIRC, as amended." However, it is to be noted that in the VAT Refund Notice, the CIR deducted from PMSC's refund claim the amount of P15,923,730.23, representing input VAT allocated to the alleged export sales not valid for zero-rating amounting to

P174,059,370.30 due to insufficient documentation, detailed as follows: 74

Allocated Input

Reason for disallowance

Sales Amount

VAT

A

Export sales with airway bills/ bills of lading not under p 156,283,869.50 p 14,303,325.93 the claimant's (bu_y_er's) name

B

Export sales with unsupported commission fees 17,775,500.80 1,620,404.30

Total

P174,059,370.30 P15,923,730.23 In other words, out of the total amount of P1,39 1,571,100.05 zero-rated sales reported by PMSC for CY 2018, only the amount of P174,059,370.30 was disallowed by the CIR for VAT zero-rating. Thus, what is left to be resolved by the Court is whether or not the said disallowance is correct. A. Export sales with airway bills/ bills of lading not under the claimanfs (buyer)s) name ?156,283,869.50 As ascertained by the ICPA, the disallowed amount of P156,283,869.50 represents PMSC's export sales of goods to the following: 75

Name of Buyer

Sales in USD

Sales in PHP

1. SUN JIN C&S CO. LTD. 2,965,000.00 156,096,934 .50

2. JFE SHOJI TRADE CORPORATION 3,500.00 186,935.00

Total

2,968,500.00 156,283,869.50 The CIR disallowed the input VAT in the amount of P14,303,325.93 attributable to the said export sales on the ground that the corresponding airway bills/ bills of lading are not under the claimant's name.

Section 106(A)(2)(a)(1) of the NIRC of 1997, as amended, provides:

74 Exhibit "P-4" j"R-5", Annexes A and F, Docket- Vol. II, p. 723; Exhibit 'R-4", item number 5, BIR Records, p. 452.

1s Exhibits "P-23", p.47", Docket- Vol. I, p. 531.~ "SEC. 106. Value-Added Tax on Sale of Goods or Properties.- (A)Rate and Base of Tax.- xxx

(2) The following sales by VAT-registered persons shall be subject to zero percent (0°/o) rate:

(a) Export Sales.- The term "export sales" means:

(1) The sale and actual shipment of goods from the Philippines to a foreign country, irrespective of any shipping arrangement that may be agreed upon which may influence or determine the transfer of ownership of the goods so exported and paid for in acceptable foreign currency or its equivalent in goods or services, and accounted for in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP)."

Based on the foregoing, in order for an export sale to qualify as VAT zero-rated, the following conditions must be complied with:

1) The sale was made by a VAT registered person; 2) There was sale and actual shipment of goods from the Philippines to foreign country; and 3) The sale was paid for in acceptable foreign currency accounted for in accordance with the rules and regulations of the BSP.

As for the first condition, it has been settled that PMSC is a VAT-registered person.

With regard to the second condition, Sections 113(A)(1), (B)(1), (2)(c), and (3) of the NIRC of 1997, as amended, as implemented by Section 4.113-1(A)(1), B(1), and (2)(c) of Revenue Regulations (RR) No. 16-05, as amended, provide that a VAT taxpayer, like PMSC, shall for every sale, barter or exchange of goods or properties, issue a duly registered VAT~ invoice which contain all the required information under the said law and regulations.

To satisfy the second condition, it is incumbent upon the VAT-registered person to have, at the minimum, the following supporting documents:

a. The sales invoice as proof of sale of goods; and

b. The bill of lading or airway bill as proof of actual shipment of goods from the Philippines to a foreign country.

1. Export sales to Sun Jin C&S Co. Ltd. (Sun Jin) - p 156,096,934.50 PMSC submitted the related shipping invoices76 which indicated that the exported goods were for the account of Sun Jin with address located in South Korea; and that the consignee was PT Krakatau Pasco (PT Krakatau) with address located in Indonesia.

The corresponding bills of lading77 submitted by PMSC show that the subject export sales were indeed delivered to the consignee indicated in the shipping invoices, PT Krakatau, in Indonesia. PMSC explained that the subject export sales were made to Sun Jin, a non-resident foreign corporation organized and existing under the laws of the Republic of Korea. These sales are raw limestone which were further sold by Sun Jin to PT Krakatau, a non-resident foreign corporation organized and existing under the laws of Indonesia, and end user of the purchased goods, for PT Krakatau's steel making processes located in Indonesia.

Since PT Krakatau is the actual end user of the raw limestone, it was therefore more cost-effective for PMSC to deliver the goods to PT Krakatau in Indonesia instead of sending the goods to Sun Jin in South Korea: 78 To further prove that the actual buyer of the subject goods was Sun Jin, PMSC presented its Sales and Purchase

Agreement79 with Sun Jin. A perusal of the said document shows that Sun Jin was the buyer of the exported raw limestones, which were to be supplied by Sun Jin to PT Krakatau as raw material for the latter's steel making process. Evidently, PMSC made export sales to Sun Jin, a non- resident foreign corporation located in South Korea, and such exported goods were shipped from the Philippines to a foreign country, i.e., Indonesia.

2. Export sales to JFE Shoji

Trade Corporation (JSTC) -

p 186, 935. 00 The supporting shipping invoiceso and bill of ladingBl submitted by PMSC reflect a different sales amount of US$42,700.00, thus, these documents cannot be considered as pertaining to the disallowed export sales of !>186,935.00 (equivalent to US$3,500)82.

In fine, the Court finds PMSC to have satisfactorily met the second condition for VAT zero-rating but only with regard to its export sales to Sun Jin 1n the amount of !>156,096,934.50.

PMSC likewise complied with the third condition for VAT zero-rating as regards the export sales of !>156,096,934.50. PMSC submitted the Certification83 from Mizuho Bank, Ltd. showing foreign currency inward remittances of US$3,497,697.00 which were duly accounted for in accordance with BSP rules and regulations. As ascertained by the Court-commissioned ICPA, the said total remittances included the amount of US$2,965,000.00, representing the foreign currency proceeds of the P 156,096,934.50 export sales to Sun Jin.B4 To recapitulate, out of the !>156,283,869.50 export sales disallowed by the CIR, the Court finds that the amount of 79 Exhibit "P-52134".

80 Exhibit "P-99".

a1 Exhibit "P-505".

P156,096,934.50 qualifies for VAT zero-rating under Section 1 06(A)(2)(a)( 1) of the NIRC of 1997, as amended.

Only the

remaining amount of P186,935.00 shall be denied VAT zero- rating.

B. Export sales with unsupported commission fees -P17, 775,500.80 Records show that the subject disallowance relates to PMSC's export sales of goods to JFE Shoji Trade Corporation (JFE Shoji). 85 In paying for the exported goods, JFE Shoji deducted the amount of P17,775,500.80 representing commission fees it earned and due from PMSC. The CIR disallowed the said amount for being unsupported by the proper invoice and bill of lading/ airway bill. The Court finds the disallowance improper. Based on the "Service Agreements for shipments in Taiwan"86 entered into by PMSC with JFE Shoji, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of Japan, the latter has concluded a Comprehensive Agreement with PMSC for the supply of limestone and dolomite to China Steel Corporation (CSC) and Dragon Steel Corporation (DSC) which are the buying entities. JFE Shoji shall receive from PMSC pertinent shipping documents and shall make and send the necessary shipping documents to CSC and DSC on behalf of PMSC. The respective Service Agreements also state in Article 2.1 thereof that "(t)he following necessary functions required by PMSC from JFE Shoji, including but not limited to coordination with CSC and DSC, arrangement efforts, and marketing efforts, shall all be performed out of the territory of the Philippines."

For services to be rendered by JFE Shoji to PMSC as enumerated in Article 2.1 of the agreements, JFE Shoji shall be paid commissions as follows: 87 ss Exhibit "P -4" /"R-5 ", Annex "F . l ",Docket - Vol. II, p . 7 50.

CTA Case No. 1026 1

"3.1 PMSC shall pay JFE Shoji commission income for the above services, based on the final quantity shipped to CSC and DSC, at the rate of US$0.50/MT for both Limestone and Dolomite." Aside from the aforementioned service agreements, which served as the basis for calculating the commissions due to JFE Shoji, PMSC was also able to present relevant documents proving its export sales to JFE Shoji, such as shipping invoices, export declarations, bills of lading, bank certification of foreign currency inward remittances which were summarized in Annexes 1-1Q-d, 1-2Q-e, 1-3Q-e and 1-4Q-c of the ICPA report.ss Verily, offsetting arrangements as proof that zero-rated sales are paid for in acceptable foreign currency accounted for in accordance with BSP rules is acceptable pursuant to Revenue Memorandum Circular (RMC) No. 42-03. It provides: "Q-8:

With the full liberalization of the BSP rules on foreign exchange and trade transactions (CB Circular No. 1389 dated April 13, 1993 enunciated in RMC No. 57 -97), the BIR requirement for full documentation of proofs of inward remittances of export proceeds should no longer be enforced.

Accordingly, what should be the acceptable documentary requirements in the processing of claims for TCC I refund, specifically on offsetting arrangements?

A-8:

In the case of offsetting arrangements, the following documents should be required:

a. Import documents which created liability accounts in favor of the foreign parent or affiliated company;

b . Other contracts with the foreign or affiliated company that brought about

the liabilities which were offset against receivables from export sales;

c. Evidence of proceeds of loans, in case the claimant has received loans or advances from the foreign company;

d. Documents or correspondence regarding offsetting arrangements;

e. Confirmation of the offsetting arrangements by the heads of the business organizations involved;

f. Documents to prove actual export of goods;

g. Documents to prove that the sales are zero-rated sales.

Thus, the CIR had no basis to disallow the export sales of P17,775,500.80 which were paid for or offset against the commissions due and payable by PMSC to JFE Shoji. In sum, out of the Pl,391,571,100.05 total zero-rated sales declared by PMSC for CY 2018, only the amount of P186,935.00 shall be denied VAT zero-rating. Having found that PMSC had valid zero-rated sales in the total amount of Pl,391 ,384,165.05 (P1,391,571,100.05 less P186,935.00) for the subject period of claim, the Court shall proceed to determine whether PMSC complied with the following remaining requisites:

a.

sixth requisite:

the input taxes are not transitional input taxes;

b.

seventh requisite: the input taxes have not been applied against output taxes during and in the succeeding quarters.

c.

eighth requisite: the input taxes are due or paid; and d.

ninth requisite: the input taxes claimed are attributable to zero-rated or effectively zero-rated sales. However, where there are both zero-rated or effectively zero-rated sales and taxable or exempt sales, and the input taxes cannot be directly and entirely attributed to ~ any of these sales, the input taxes shall be proportionately allocated on the basis of sales volume. The input VAT being claimed do not appear to be transitional input taxes

Section 111 (A)

of the NIRC of 1997, as amended, provides:

"SEC. 111. Transitional/Presumptive Input Tax Credits. - (A) Transitional Input Tax Credits. - A person who becomes liable to value-added tax or any person who elects to be a VAT -registered person shall, subject to the filing of an inventory according to the rules and regulations prescribed by the

Secretary

of Finance, upon recommendation of the Commissioner, be allowed input tax on his beginning inventory of goods, materials and supplies equivalent to two percent (2°/o) of the value of such inventory or the actual value-added tax paid on such goods, materials and supplies, whichever is higher, which shall be creditable against the output tax." Transitional input tax credit operates to benefit newly VAT -registered persons, whether or not they previously paid taxes in the acquisitions of their beginning inventory of goods, materials and supplies. During the period of transition from non-VAT to VAT status, the transitional input tax credit serves to alleviate the impact of the VAT on the taxpayer. 89 Since there is no showing that the subject input VAT are transitional input VAT, PMSC has complied with the sixth requisite for the grant of an input VAT refund. 89 Fort Bonifacio Development Corporation v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, G.R. Nos. 158885 and 170680, April 2, 2008.~ The subject input taxes have not been applied against output taxes during and in the succeeding quarters.

In Chevron Holdings, Inc. {formerly: Caltex Asia Limited) v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue9o (Chevron), the Supreme Court ruled that:

"xxx, the input tax attributable to zero-rated sales may, at the option of the VAT -registered taxpayer, be: (1) charged against output tax from regular 12°/o VAT-able sales, and any unutilized or "excess" input tax may be claimed for refund or the issuance of tax credit certificate; or (2) claimed for refund or tax credit in its entirety. It must be stressed that the remedies of charging the input tax against the output tax and applying for a refund or tax credit are alternative and cumulative. Furthermore, the option is vested with the taxpayer-claimant. It goes without saying that the CTA, and even the Court may not, on its own, deduct the input tax attributable to zero- rated sales from the output tax derived from the regular twelve percent (12°/o) VAT-able sales first and use the resultant amount as the basis in computing the allowable amount for refund. The courts cannot condition the refund of input taxes allocable to zero-rated sales on the existence of "excess" creditable input taxes, which includes the input taxes carried over from the previous periods, from the output taxes. These procedures find no basis in law and jurisprudence."

(Emphases

supplied) Clearly, with respect to its input taxes attributable to zero-rated sales, it is the taxpayer (and not the Court) who is given the option to either:

1.

Charge a portion of its input taxes attributable to zero-rated sales to the output taxes, and refund the balance, if any; or

CTA Case No. 1026 1

2.

Refund all of the input taxes attributable to zero-rated sales.

In the present case, PMSC effectively opted to avail of the first option. For the CY 2018, PMSC reported an aggregate amount of P176, 164,872.02 input taxes arising from its current purchases of capital goods not exceeding P1Million, purchases of capital goods exceeding PlMillion, domestic purchases of goods other than capital goods, importation of goods other than capital goods, domestic purchases of services and services rendered by non-residents, broken down as follows:

INPUT VAT

1st Quarter 2nd Quarter 3rd Quarter 4th Quarter Exh. "P-6-B" Exh. "P-6-E" Exh. "P-6-H" Exh. "P-6-K"

CY 2018

Purchase of

Ca pital Goods not exceeding

P1Million

p 137,053.24 p 105,905.03 p 199,011.30 p 69,852.40 p 511,821.97

Purchase of

Capital

Goods

exceeding

P1Million

458,590.35 414,764.99 145,111.38 1,018,466.72

Domestic

Purchases of Goods

Other Than

Capital

Goods

11,379,605.02 13,513,253. 17 13,971,450.93 14 ,026,583.21 52,890,892.33

Importation of Goods

Other Than

Capital

Goods

7,458,808.00 1,678,398.00 18,320,256.00 888,936.00 28,346,398.00

Domestic

Purchases of Services

26,503,574.7 6 23,014,742.89 18,591' 109.09 20,302,464.60 88,411,891.34

Services

Rendered by Non-

Residents

1,991,959.46 - 2,993,442.20 4,985,401.66

Total

!"45,937,631.37 P40, 719,023.54 !"51,081,827.32 !"38,426,389. 79 Pl76, 164,872.02 For the said taxable year, PMSC's alleged output VAT liability in relation to its sales subject to VAT amounted to P42,248,970.43, against which input VAT attributable to sales subject to VAT for the same year amounting to P35,567,687.66 was applied. This resulted in output VAT still payable in the amount of P6,681,282.77.

PMSC's remaining output VAT liability was then deducted from its input VAT attributable to zero-rated sales resulting in an excessfunutilized VAT in the~ - -

CTA Case No. 1026 1 amount of P133,915,901.59, as shown below, for which PMSC filed an administrative claim for refund:91

Total Input VAT for CY 2018

P176 164,872.02 Percentage of sales attributable to zero-rated sales 79.81% Input VAT attributable to zero-rated sales p 140,597, 184.36 Less: Output VAT payable (6,681,282.77)

Total Output VAT

P42,248,970.43 Less: Input VAT attributable to sales subject to

VAT

35,567,687.66 Unutilized input VAT attributable to zero- rated sales, net of output VAT payable p 133,915,901.59 Clearly, PMSC's VAT refund claim for CY 2018 which was filed at the administrative level, is already net of its reported output VAT liability for the same period. Moreover, the CIR, in arriving at the partial refund of P99,146,898.93, deducted the following amounts: a) P598,545.5792 representing output VAT on interest income and rental income from related parties in the amount ofP4,987,879.71; and b) P2,094,345.36 representing final withholding VAT on the commission payments made by PMSC to JFE Shoji.

With regard to the output VAT due of P598,545.57, PMSC conceded to the said deduction.

On the other hand, PMSC objected to the deduction of the alleged final withholding VAT due of P2,094,345.36 as the same forms part of the P24,643,307.43, subject of the present appeal.

The CIR computed the alleged final withholding VAT due of P2,094,345.36 as follows: 93

Commission on 20 18

Beginning Balance

Ending Balance

Total Payment of Commission to JSTC on

TY 2018

Corresponding

Withholding

VAT

on

Payment @12%

P17,964,353.00 2,751,776.00 (3,263,251.00) 17,452,878.00 P2,094,345.36 PMSC argued that it was erroneous for the CIR to assess final withholding VAT on the commissions earned by JFE Shoji and deduct this alleged liability from PMSC's claim for tax refund since the commissions which JFE Shoji earned were for services it rendered outside the Philippines. 94 The Court agrees with PMSC.

Based on the "Service Agreements for Shipments 1n Taiwan" between PMSC and JFE Shoji: 95

1. JFE Shoji is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of Japan;

2. The PMSC shall pay JFE Shoji commission income;

3. The PMSC required JFE Shoji to coordinate with CSC; and DSC, arrangement efforts and marketing efforts and will be performed out of the territory of the Philippines.

Moreover, the Certificate of Non-Registration of Company issued by the

Philippine

Securities

and

Exchange

Commission96 states that JFE Shoji is not registered in the Philippines as a corporation, partnership of One Person Corporation. 97 Considering that the subject services were performed outside the Philippines by JFE Shoji, the same are beyond the jurisdiction of Philippine taxation. It bears stressing that the sale or exchange of services subject to 12°/o VAT under Section 94 Petitioner's Memorandum, par. 92, Docket- Vol. II, p. 1029.

108 () of the NIRC of 1997, as amended, pertains to serv1ces performed in the Philippines.

In imposing the 12°/o final withholding VAT on commissions against PMSC, the CIR invoked Section 4.114- 2(b) of RR No. 16-05, which pertinently provides: "SECTION 4.114-2. Withholding of VAT on

Government Money Payments and Payments to Non-

Residents.-

XXX

XXX

XXX

(b) The government or any of its political subdivisions, instrumentalities or agencies, including GOCCs, as well as private corporations, individuals, estates and trusts, whether large or non-large taxpayers, shall withhold ten percent (10°/o) VAT with respect to the following payments: ( 1) Lease or use of properties or property rights owned by non-residents;

(2) Services rendered to local 1nsurance companies, with respect to reinsurance premiums payable to non-residents; and (3)

Other

services rendered in the Philippines by non-residents.

In remitting VAT withheld, the withholding agent shall use BIR Form No. 1600 Remittance

Return of VAT and Other Percentage Taxes

Withheld.

VAT withheld and paid for the non-resident recipient (remitted using BIR Form No. 1600), which VAT is passed on to the resident withholding agent by the non-resident recipient of the income, may be claimed as input tax by said VAT-registered withholding agent upon filing his own VAT Return, subject to the rule on allocation of input tax among taxable sales, zero- rated sales and exempt sales. The duly filed BIR Form No.

1600 is the proof or documentary~

CTA Case No. 1026 1 substantiation for the claimed input tax or input VAT."

From the foregoing provisions, the VAT withheld and remitted on behalf of the non-resident foreign corporation may be claimed as input tax credit on the part of the resident withholding agent. Thus, granting, for the sake of argument, that the CIR was correct in imposing the 12o/o final withholding VAT against PMSC, the same amount may be claimed by PMSC as input tax credit. Consequently, the result is that the transaction shall have no effect on PMSC's VAT refund claim. Finally, PMSC's Amended Quarterly VAT Return for the 2nd quarter of CY 20 1998 shows that the aforesaid claim of P133,915,901.59 was deducted as "VAT Refund/ TCC claimed" (under Line 23D), preventing the carry-over or application of such input taxes in the next taxable quarterj s. Hence, PMSC is deemed to have fulfilled the seventh requisite for the refund/tax credit of input VAT under Section 112(A) of the NIRC of 1997, as amended Not all input VAT being claimed were due or paid With respect to the eight requisite in claiming VAT refund, it is incumbent upon PMSC to provide supporting documents to prove that the input taxes claimed for the CY 2018 were actually due or paid in accordance with Section 110(A) of the NIRC of 1997, as amended. It provides: "SEC. 110. Tax Credits. - (A) Creditable input Tax. -

(1) Any input tax evidenced by a VAT invoice or official receipt issued in accordance with

Section

113 hereof on the following transactions shall be creditable against the output tax:

(a) Purchase or importation of goods:

( 1) For sale; or (ii) For conversion into or intended to form part of a finished product for sale including packaging materials; or (iii) For use as supplies In the course of business; or (iv) For use as materials supplied in the sale of service; or

(v) For use in trade or business for which deduction for depreciation or amortization is allowed under this Code.

(b) Purchase of services on which a value- added tax has actually been paid.

(2) The input tax on domestic purchase or importation of goods or properties by a VAT- registered person shall be creditable:

(a) To the purchaser upon consummation of sale and on importation of goods or properties; and

(b) To the importer upon payment of the value- added tax prior to the release of the goods from the custody of the Bureau of Customs. Provided, That the input tax on goods purchased or imported in a calendar month for use in trade or business for which deduction for depreciation is allowed under this Code, shall be spread evenly over the month of acquisition and the fifty-nine (59) succeeding months if the aggregate acquisition cost for such goods, excluding the VAT component thereof, exceeds One million pesos (Pl ,000,000):

Provided, however, That if the estimated useful life of the capital good is less than five (5) years, as used for depreciation purposes, then the input VAT shall be spread over such a shorter period: Provided, finally, That in the case of purchase of services, lease or use of properties, the input tax shall be creditable to the purchaser, ,____

CTA Case No. 1026 1 lessee or licensee upon payment of the compensation, rental, royalty or fee." (Emphasis supplied) The above provisions are implemented by Sections 4.110- 1 to 4.110-3 of RR No. 16-05. It provides: "SECTION 4.110-1. Credits For Input Tax. - 'Input tax" means the VAT due on or paid by a VAT- registered person on importation of goods or local purchases of goods, properties, or services, including lease or use of properties, in the course of his trade or business. It shall also include the transitional input tax and the presumptive input tax determined in accordance with Sec. 111 of the Tax Code.

It includes input taxes which can be directly attributed to transactions subject to the VAT plus a ratable portion of any input tax which cannot be directly attributed to either the taxable or exempt activity.

Any input tax on the following transactions evidenced by a VAT invoice or official receipt issued by a VAT -registered person in accordance with Sees. 113 and 237 of the Tax Code shall be creditable against the output tax:

(a) Purchase or importation of goods ( 1) For sale; or

(2) For conversion into or intended to form part of a finished product for sale, including packaging materials; or

(3) For use as supplies in the course of business; or

(4) For use as raw materials supplied in the sale of services; or ~

( 5) For use in trade or business for which deduction for depreciation or amortization is allowed under the Tax Code,

(b) Purchase of real properties for which a VAT has actually been paid;

(c) Purchase of services 1n which a VAT has actually been paid;

(d) Transactions 'deemed sale' under Sec. 106 (B) of the Tax Code;

(e) Transitional input tax allowed under Sec. 4.111 (a) of these Regulations;

(f) Presumptive input tax allowed under Sec. 4.111 (b) of these Regulations;

(g) Transitional input tax credits allowed under the transitory and other provisions of these Regulations.

SECTION 4.110-2. Persons Who Can Avail of the Input Tax Credit. - The input tax credit on importation of goods or local purchases of goods, properties or services by a VAT -registered person shall be creditable:

(a) To the importer upon payment of VAT prior to the release of goods from customs custody;

(b) To the purchaser of the domestic goods or properties upon consummation of the sale; or

(c) To the purchaser of services or the lessee or licensee upon payment of the compensation, rental, royalty or fee."

"SECTION 4.110-3. Claim for Input Tax on Depreciable Goods. -

Where a

VAT -registered person purchases or imports capital goods, which are depreciable assets for income tax purposes, the aggregate acquisition cost of which (exclusive of VAT) in a calendar month exceeds One Million pesos (P1,000,000.00) , regardless of the acquisition cost of~ each capital good, shall be claimed as credit against output tax in the following manner:

(a) If the estimated useful life of a capital good is five (5) years or more - The input tax shall be spread evenly over a period of sixty (60) months and the claim for input tax credit will commence in the calendar month when the capital good is acquired. The total input taxes on purchases or importations of this type of capital goods shall be divided by 60 and the quotient will be the amount to be claimed monthly.

(b) If the estimated useful life of a capital good is less than five (5) years- The input tax shall be spread evenly on a monthly basis by dividing the input tax by the actual number of months comprising the estimated useful life of the capital good. The claim for input tax credit shall commence in the calendar month that the capital goods were acquired.

Where the aggregate acquisition cost (exclusive of VAT) of the existing or finished depreciable capital goods purchased or imported during any calendar month does not exceed

One

million pesos (Pl,OOO,OOO.OO), the total input taxes will be allowable as credit against output tax in the month of acquisition; Provided, however, that the total amount of input taxes (input tax on depreciable capital goods plus other allowable input taxes) allowed to be claimed against the output tax in the quarterly VAT Returns shall be subject to the limitation prescribed under Sec. 4 .110-7 of these Regulations.

The aggregate acquisition cost of a depreciable asset in any calendar month refers to the total price agreed upon for one or more assets acquired and not on the payments actually made during the calendar month. Thus, an asset acquired in installment for an acquisition cost of more than Pl ,OOO,OOO.OO will be subject to the amortization of input tax despite the fact that the monthly payments/installments may not exceed Pl,OOO,OOO.OO. ~

XXX

XXX

XXX

If

the depreciable capital good is sold/transferred within a period of five (5) years or prior to the exhaustion of the amortizable input tax thereon, the entire unamortized input tax on the capital goods sold/transferred can be claimed as input tax credit during the month/ quarter when the sale or transfer was made but subject to the limitation prescribed under Sec. 4. 110-7 of these Regulations." (Emphasis supplied) Moreover, Section 4.110-8 of RR No. 16-05 provides for the substantiation requirements of input tax credits, as follows:

"SECTION 4.110-8. Substantiation of Input Tax Credits.-

(a) Input taxes for the importation of goods or the domestic purchase of goods, properties or services is made in the course of trade or business, whether such input taxes shall be credited against zero-rated sale, non-zero-rated sales, or subjected to the 5°/o

Final

Withholding

VAT, must be substantiated and supported by the following documents, and must be reported in the information returns required to be submitted to the

Bureau:

(1) For the importation of goods- import entry or other equivalent document showing actual payment of VAT on the imported goods.

(2) For the domestic purchase of goods and properties invoice showing the information required under Sees. 113 and 237 of the Tax Code.

(3) For the purchase of real property - public instrument i.e., deed of absolute sale, deed of conditional sale, contract/ agreement to sell, etc., together with VAT invoice issued by the seller.~

(4) For the purchase of services- official receipt showing the information required under Sees. 113 and 237 of the Tax Code. A cash register machine tape issued to a registered buyer shall constitute valid proof of substantiation of tax credit only if it shows the information required under Sees. 113 and 237 of the Tax Code.

(b) Transitional input tax shall be supported by an inventory of goods as shown in a detailed list to be submitted to the BIR.

(c) Input tax on 'deemed sale' transactions shall be substantiated with the invoice required under Sec. 4.113-2 of these Regulations.

(d) Input tax from payments made to non- residents (such as for services, rentals and royalties) shall be supported by a copy of the Monthly

Remittance Return of Value Added Tax Withheld

(BIR Form 1600) filed by the resident payor in behalf of the non-resident evidencing remittance of VAT due which was withheld by the payor.

(e) Advance VAT on sugar shall be supported by the Payment Order showing payment of the advance VAT." (Emphasis supplied) Thus, in order to be entitled to input tax credits, the same must b e evidence d by a VAT sales invoice (SI) or an official receipt (OR) issued in accordance with Sections 113 and 237 of the NIRC of 1997, as amended. To prove entitlement to credits for input taxes due and paid, PMSC must not only present the supporting documents prescribed under Section 4 .110-8 of RR No. 16-05, but it must also comply with the invoicing requirements under Sections 113(A) and (B), 237 and 238 of the NIRC of 1997, as amended, as implemented by Section 4.113-1(A) and (B) ofRR No. 16-05. ~ As shown earlier, PMSC's excess input VAT claim of P133,9 15,901.59 emanated from PMSC's reported inpu t VAT for the CY 20 18 in the amount of P176, 164,872.02, detailed as follows:

INP UT VA T

1st Quarter 2nd Quarter 3rd Quarter 4t h Quarter Ex h. "P-6-B " Ex h. "P-6-E" Ex h . "P-6-H " Ex h. "P-6-K "

CY 2 018

Purchase of

Capita l Goods not exceeding

P1Million

1' 137,053.24 p 105,905.03 p 199,011.30 p 69,852.40 p 5 11,82 1.97

Purchase of

Capital

Goods

exceeding

P1Million

458,590.35 414,764.99 145,111.38 1,018,466.72

Domestic

Purchases of Goods

Other Than

Capital

Goods

11,379,605.02 13,513,253.17 13,971,4 50.93 14,026,583.21 52,890,892.33 Importa tion

of Goods

Other Than

Capital

Goods

7,458,808.00 1,678,398.00 18,320,256.00 888,936.00 28,346,398.00

Domestic

Purchases of Services

26,503,574.76 23,014,742.89 18,591,109.09 20,302,464.60 88,41 1,891.34

Services

Rendered by Non-

Residents

1,991,959.46 - 2,993,442.20 4,985,401.66

Total

P45,937,631.37 P40,719,023.54 P5 1,081,827.32 P38,42 6 ,389. 79 P176,164,872.02 Ou t of the aforesaid input tax of P176, 164,872.02, the CIR found only the amount of P160,037 ,490.6 1 as PMSC's valid or allowable inpu t tax and denied th e rem aining amount of P16, 127,381.4 1, as sh own below:99

Available Input VAT for the Period

1'176, 164,872.02

Less: Disallowances

Overclaimed input tax per BIR Form No. 1914 as against Quarterly VAT Returns (QVRs) p 68,884.01 Not in compliance with the invoicing requirements 6,023,907.45 Big-ticket disallowances 3,026,553.52 ITS verification 42,916.81 Deferred input tax not reflected in the VAT returns 949,582.71 Additional deferred input tax from purchases of capita l goods> 1M 6,015,536.91 16,127,381.41

Allowable Input Tax

» 160,037 ,490.61

The foregoing findings are the results of the CIR's verification of PMSC's sources of input VAT against the original copies of VAT invoices or official receipts, in the case of local purchases of goods and services, respectively, in compliance with the invoicing requirements under Section 113 in relation to Section 110(A) of the NIRC. The CIR's verification also included importation documents, Certificate of VAT Payment issued by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) Revenue

Accounting

Division

(RAD)

together with the

BOC-

authenticated copies of Import Entry and Internal Revenue Declarations (IERDs) and/ or Single Administrative Documents (SADs), Statements of Settlement of Duties and Taxes (SSDTs) and Commercial Invoices.1oo However, PMSC disagrees with the disallowance of the following input taxes in the amount of P6,625,231.76 (part of the P24,643,307.43 refund claim, subject of the instant

Petition for Review):

Disallowed

Item

Reason for disallowance/ deduction

Input VAT

A

Big ticket disallowance since the OR date is before ATP approval P1 ,207,419.49

Big

ticket disallowance;

non- compliance with ..

B

mvo1cmg requirements due to m1ssmg sales invoice 2 17,282 .68 c Deferred Input Tax (DIT) not reflected in VAT returns 949,582.71

D

Additional DIT for capital goods - importations 4,250,946.88 P6,625,231 . 76 As such, the Court shall now determine whether the above disallowances are correct.

A. Big ticket disallowance sznce the

OR

date zs before ATP approval ?1,207,419.49.

The CIR identified and examined the invoices and/ or official receipts supporting PMSC's big-ticket purchases. Based on Revenue Memorandum Order (RMO) No. 16-07, "big- ticket" items of purchases refer to purchases made from

suppliers whose individual gross annual cumulative sales to the particular taxpayer-purchaser accounts to more than five percent (5°/o) of said taxpayer-purchaser's annual gross purchases covering the period under audit. Finding that the official receipts supporting PMSC's big- ticket purchases of services from Vercon Development Corporation (Vercon} were dated during such time when Vercon did not have a valid and existing Authority to Print (ATP) from the BIR, the CIR denied PMSC's corresponding input claim in the amount ofP1 ,207,419.49.101 The Court agrees with the input VAT disallowance of 1>1,207,419.49.

As shown below, a scrutiny of the ORs supporting the claimed input VAT of 1>1 ,207,419.49 shows that Vercon's ATP was issued only on October 11, 2018. Considering that these ORs were dated prior to October 11, 2018, Vercon had no duly registered ORs at the time the purchase transactions were made by PMSC.

EXHIBIT

Total Amount of

Claimed

REFERENCE

OR No.

Date ofOR

Purchases

Input Tax

"P-50144", p. 1 of2 2532 Aug. 1, 2018 p 401,785.71 p 48,214.29 "P-50818", p. 1 of 2 2527 Aug. 1, 2018 1 12,500.00 13,500.00 "P-50820", p. 1 of2 2526 Aug. 1, 2018 937,500.00 112,500.00 "P-50921", p. 1 of2 2524 Oct. 1, 2018 3,226,607.17 387,192.86 "P-50969", p. 1 of 2 2525 Oct. 1, 2018 280,000.00 33,600.00 "P-50970", p. 1 of 2 2523 Oct. 1, 2018 735,307.00 88,236.84 "P-50971", p. 1 of 2 2522 Oct. 1, 2018 203,370.33 24,404.44 "P-51078", p. 1 of2 2529 Sept. 12, 2018 2,035,714.44 244,285.56 "P-50808", p. 1 of 2 2520 Aug. 1, 2018 544,040.33 65,284.84 "P-50912", p. 1 of2 2521 Aug.20,2018 1,585,005.4 7 190,200.66 p 10,061,830.45 p 1,207,419.49 It is clear under Sections 237 and 238 of the NIRC of 1997, as amended, that entities engaged in business are required to secure from the BIR an ATP to issue duly registered receipts or invoices. As such, the ORs supporting PMSC's purchases of services from Vercon must be duly registered at the time the transactions were made. For 1o1 Exhibit "P-9", Q&A No. 52, Docket- Vol. I, pp. 274 to 275. ~

PMSC's failure to present duly registered VAT ORs, the input VAT claim ofP1,207,419.49 must be denied. B. Big ticket disallowance;

non-compliance with rnvorcrng requirements due to missing sales invoice- P217 ,282.68 The CIR denied the amount of P217,282.68 from PMSC's total claim on the ground that the supporting sales invoice relative to PMSC's payment to Dolomite Mining Corporation (DMC) cannot be found.1o2 PMSC, on the other hand, alleged that the the CIR erroneously referred to a sales invoice rather than that of an official receipt because the transaction pertains to a purchase of services specifically lease payment.l03 The Court finds the disallowance proper and in order. An examination of the 0Rl04 issued by DMC to PMSC shows that the input VAT P217,282.68 pertains to PMSC's payment for 2018 land rental in the amount of P1,810,689.01. As correctly pointed out by PMSC, such lease payment must be supported by an OR pursuant to Section 113(A)(2) of the NIRC of 1997, as amended. However, the Court noted that the said OR bears serial number OR-11000883 which is outside the "Series No: 000001 to 999999" per BIR Permit No: 1210- ETRD-CAS-00097 reflected on the lowe r right-hand portion of the same OR. This means that the OR is not duly registered with the BIR in violation of Sections 237 and 238 of the NIRC of 1997, as amended.

C. DIT not reflected in VAT returns- ?949,582. 71 The amount of P949,582.71 allegedly representing deferred input tax was denied on the ground that said amount was not reflected in the PMSC's VAT returns. 102 Petitioner's Memorandum, par. 111, Docket- Vol. II, p. 1034. 103 Petitioner's Memorandum, par. 112, Docket- Vol. II, p. 1034.

CTA Case No. 1026 1

PMSC countered th at while the input VAT is n ot explicitly stated in th e VAT returns, this amou nt can be derived because th e VAT returns clearly show th e beginnin g and endin g values of the input tax deferred on capital goods exceeding P l Million per quarter , as well as the purch ases of capital goods exceeding PlMillion made by PMSC for th e relevant quarter. 1os The Cou rt agrees with PMSC and finds th e disallowance 1m proper.

The subject amou nt of P949 ,582.7 represents the amortized portion of th e input tax on PMSC's purchases of capital goods exceeding P l Million and is clearly reflected 1n PMSC's Am ended Quarterly VAT Returns106 for CY 20 18, as follows:

1st Quarter 2nd Quarter 3•dQuarter 4 th Quarter

"P-6-B"

"P-6-E"

"P-6-H "

"P-6-K "

Input

tax

Deferred

on

Capital

Goods

Exceeding

P1Million

from

Previous

Quarter

P3,314,490.82 P3,550,365. 75 P3,730,900.04 P3,487,000.30

Add:

Current

Purchases

of

Capital

Goods

Exceeding

P1Million

456,590.35 414,764.99 - 145, 111.38

Subtotal

P3,771,081. 17 P3,965,130.74 P3,730,900.04 1'3,632, 111.68

Less: Input Tax on Purchases of

Capital

Goods

Exceeding

P1Million

deferred to succeeding period 3,550,365.75 3,730,900.04 3,487,000.30 3,383,374.83

Total

Input

VAT-

locally purchased capital goods exceeding

P1

million from previou s quarter I year p 220,715.42 p 234,230.70 p 243,899.74 p 248,736.85 A . Additional DIT [or capital goods importations ? 4,2 50,946. 88 1os Pa r . 107, Petit ion er's Memoran dum, Docket - Vol. II, pp. 10 32. 106 Exhibit s "P-27", "P-29", "P-3 1" a nd "P-32". ~

CY 2018

P14,082, 756.91 1,016,466.72 P15,099,223.63 14,15 1,640.92 p 949,582.71

The amount of 1>4,250,946.88 was deducted from PMSC's claim as the BIR classified the imported assets and materials purchased from JFE Shoji Machinery & Materials Corporation (JSMMC) during the taxable year 2018 as capital goods or properties in accordance with Section 4 .110-3 of RR No. 16- 05, as amended. This classification means that the input VAT related to the acquisition cost of these assets and materials should be amortized.107 Below is the breakdown of the disallowed input VAT of 1>4,250,946.88: 108

Statement of

Settlement of Duties and Taxes

Amortized

Deferred Input

VAT

Asset Acquired

(SSDT)/Bureau of

Input VAT

Name of Supplier

Customs BOC) OR109

OR No.

Date

JFE

Shoji Machinery

and

Jumping Screen

R-13136

02-Mar-18

Materials

Corp

~ 514,008.00 ~ 2,570,040.00

JFE Shoji

Machinery 1 set used and generator

R-15385

15-Mar-18

Materials

Corp

49,859.67 224,298.33

JFE Shoji

Machinery 1 set belt weighter and

R-22569

18-Apr-18

Materials

Corp

54,982.35 311,566.65

JFE

Shoji

Machinery 1 set steel frame and

R-44593

24-Jul-18

Materials

Corp

10,940.30 98,462.70

JFE Shoji

Machinery 1 set rubber fender and

R-44887

25-Jul-18

Materials

Corp

11,344.50 102,100.50

JFE Shoji

Machinery 1 set Eriez and permanent

R-53309

31-Aug-18

Materials

magnet/ electro rna

Corp

lgnet 22,411.93 313,767.07

JFE Shoji

Machinery Vibrating screen and

SH616DD

R-57413

18-Sep-18

Materials

Corp_

45,050.87 630,712.13

Rounding Difference

0.50

Total

p 703,597.62 p 4,250,946.88 PMSC pointed out that Section 4.110-3 of RR No. 16- 2005, as amended by RR No.

04-2007, defines and differentiates capital goods or properties

(CGP)

from construction in progress (CIP), as follows: 1o1 Exhibit "P-9", Q&A No. 41, Docket - Vol. I, p . 272. 1oa Exhibit "P-4"/"R-5", Annex "D", Docket - Vol. II, p. 747.

((Capital goods or properties refers to goods or properties with estimated useful life greater than one ( 1) year and which are treated as depreciable assets under Sec. 34(F) of the Tax Code, used directly or indirectly in the production or sale of taxable goods or services.

The aggregate acquisition cost of depreciable assets in any calendar month refers to the total price, excluding the VAT, agreed upon for one or more assets acquired and not on the payments actually made during the calendar month. Thus, an asset acquired on installment for an acquisition cost of more than Pl,OOO,OOO.OO, excluding the VAT, will be subject to the amortization of input tax despite the fact that the monthly payments/installments may not exceed Pl ,000,000.00. Xxx xxx Construction in progress (CIP) is the cost of construction work which is not yet completed. CIP is not depreciated until the asset is placed in service. Normally, upon completion, a

CIP

item is reclassified and the reclassified asset is capitalized and depreciated.

CIP is considered, for purposes of claiming input tax, as a purchase of service, the value of which shall be determined based on the progress billings. Until such time the construction has been completed, it will not qualify as capital goods as herein defined, in which case, input tax credit on such transaction can be recognized in the month the payment was made; Provided, that an official receipt of payment has been issued based on the progress billings.

In case of contract for the sale of service where only the labor will be supplied by the contractor and the materials will be purchased by the contractee from other suppliers, input tax credit on the labor contracted shall still be recognized on the month the payment was made based on a progress billings while input tax on the purchase of materials shall be recognized at the time the materials were purchased. ~

Once the input tax has already been claimed while the construction is still in progress, no additional input tax can be claimed upon completion of the asset when it has been reclassified as a depreciable capital asset and depreciated." PMSC explained that the distinction between CGP and CIP is important since, according to Section 4.110-3 of RR 16- 2005, as amended, the input VAT on the purchase of CIP "can be recognized in the month the payment was made: Provided, that an official receipt of payment has been issued based on the progress billings."

PMSC elaborated that CGP is presumed ready for use and/ or actually being used by the taxpayer since it is already considered as a depreciable asset, whose acquisition cost and corresponding input VAT is subject to amortization over the course of its useful life. From its acquisition, its useful life is already considered running and its worth depreciating. This is allegedly in contrast with CIP, which represents the cost of construction work which is not yet completed. It is neither subjected to depreciation, nor its acquisition cost or corresponding input VAT subject to amortization. It is only subject to depreciation and amortization once construction has been completed and is thereafter categorized as CGP. However, PMSC stated that if the materials and the labor component are supplied by different suppliers, the same Section also provides that:

"[I]nput tax credit on the labor contracted shall still be recognized on the month the payment was made based on a progress billing while input tax on the purchase of materials shall be recognized at the time the materials were purchased. (Emphasis supplied) Thus, PMSC opined that Section 4 .110-3 of RR No. 16- 2005, as amended, allows the taxpayer to recognize and claim the entire amount of input VAT incurred and paid at the time these assets were purchased, provided that the following circumstances are present: ~ a .

The asset has yet to be placed in service; and b .

The labor to place the asset in service will be supplied by a contractor/ supplier different from that supplying the asset/materials.

According

to PMSC, the subject input

VAT

of 1>4,250,946.88 pertains to PMSC's purchases of assets and materials such as jumping screen, generator, belt weighter, steel frame, rubber fender, electro magnet, and vibrating screen to be used for sorting raw materials and other minerals and ores.

However, the equipment purchased requires installation work prior to being put into service and operation. Thus, PMSC treated the mechanized equipment as CIP since it had yet to be installed and JSMM C would not provide the labor for the installation of the equipment so it recognized the input VAT amounting to 1>4,250,946.88 related to its purchase and importation in its entirety in taxable year 2018. The Court finds that the input VAT disallowance of 1>4,250,946.88 is in order.

Indeed, the input VAT on purchases classified as CIP as contemplated under Section 4.110-3 of RR No. 16-2005, as amended, can be claimed in its entirety at the time of purchase.

However, in the instant case, PMSC failed to present documents or records by which the Court can trace that the subject purchases actually formed part of the "Construction in Progress" reflected under its "Property, Plant and Equipment" account per its 2018 Audited Financial Statements. 11 0 Thus, the subject purchases shall be considered as CGP and the input VAT thereon is subject to amortization.

Summarizing the above findings relative to PMSC's compliance with the eighth requisite, the Court finds that petitioner's declared current input VAT for the CY 2018 in the amount of P176, 164,872.02 should be reduced by the following input

VAT

disallowances amounting to 1>15,177,798.71, detailed as follows: u o Exhibit "R-6" (BIR Records), p. 51.~

Amount of Input

Reason for disallowance Not in compliance with the invoicing requirements Big-ticket disallowances ITS verification Overclaimed input VAT Additional deferred input tax from capital goods > 1M

Total Disallowances

A portion of the valid input

VAT

is attributable to

PMSC's

valid zero-rated sales for the CY 2018 purchases

VAT

p 6,023,907.45 3,026,553.52 42,916.81 68,884.01 of 6,015,536.91 P15,177,798.71 To reiterate, the ninth requisite requires that the input taxes claimed are attributable to zero-rated or effectively zero- rated sales. However, where there are zero-rated or effectively zero-rated sale and taxable sales, and the input taxes are not directly and entirely attributable to any of these sales, the input taxes shall be proportionately allocated on the basis of sales volume.

In the present case, since PMSC had sales subject to 12°/o VAT aside from zero-rated sales, the total declared current input VAT for CY 2018 amounting to P176, 164,872.02 shall be proportionately allocated as follows:

Input VAT

Input VAT

Attributable to

Attributable to

Particulars

VATable Sales

Zero-rated Sales

Amount of VATable Sales I Zero-rated

Sales

p 357,062,633.22 p 1,391,571,100.05

Divided by Total Sales

1,748,633,733.27 1,748,633,733.27

Multiplied by Total Available Input VAT

176,164,872.02 176,164,872.02

Input VAT Attributable to VATable

Sales I Zero-rated Sales

p 35,972,023.12111 P140,192,848.891 12 The amount of P140,192,848.89 representing the input VAT attributable to zero-rated sales shall be further reduced by the Court's disallowances amounting to P15,177,798.71 and Output VAT still due in the amount of P6,875,492.88, computed as follows:

11 1 (20.42% * Pl76, 164,872.02).

------- 112 (79.58% * P176, 164,872.02). ~

Output VAT attributable to VATable Sales Less: Input VAT attributable to VATable sales Output VAT still due

Additional Output VAT

Total Output VAT still due Input VAT attributable to Zero-rated Sales Refundable Balance of Input VAT attributable to

Zero-rated Sales

Less: Disallowances

Valid Available Input VAT attributable to Zero- rated Sales p 42,248,970.43 35,972,023.12 p (6,276,947.31) (598,545.57) p (6,875,492.88) 140,192,848.89 p 133,317,356.02 15,177,798.71 p 118,139,557.31 Since the amount of P118,139,557.31 represents the input taxes attributable to zero-rated sales, the same shall be allocated proportionally on the basis of petitioner's total zero- rated sales, as follows:

Valid Zero-rated Sale£J:..!9} P1,391,384, 165.05

Divided by Total Zero-rated Sales

1,39 1,571' 100.05 Multiplied by valid input taxes attributable to zero-rated sales 118,139,557.31 Input tax attributable to zero-rated sales p 118,123,687.17 The above-computed amount of P118, 123,687.17 pertains to petitioner's unutilized input VAT attributable to its zero-rated sales for the CY 2018. However, in order to determine the amount of petitioner's entitlement to the subject refund claim, said amount of P118, 123,687.17 shall be further reduced by the amount of !>99,146,898.92 pertaining to petitioner's administrative claim approved by the BIR and P25,000.00 which pertains to the amount of compromise penalty charged by the BIR and admitted by petitioner, viz.:

Refundable Amount

p 118,123,687.17

Less: Amount Approved by BIR

99,146,898.92

Net Refundable Amount

p 18,976,788.25

Less: Compromise Penalty

25,000.00

Total Net Refundable Amount

p 18,951,788.25 113 Total zero-rated sales of P1,391,571,100.0 less disallowed zero-rated sales of P186,935.00. ~

In fine, petitioner has sufficiently proven its entitlement to a refund or issuance of TCC in the net amount of P18,951,788.25, representing its remaining unutilized input VAT attributable to its zero-rated sales for the CY 2018, net of the refund amount approved by BIR and compromise penalty. Accordingly, the instant

Petition

for

Review

IS

PARTIALLY

GRANTED.

Respondent is

ORDERED

TO

REFUND OR ISSUE A TAX CREDIT CERTIFICATE in favor of petitioner the amount of P18,951,788.25, representing petitioner's unutilized input VAT attributable to its zero-rated sales for the CY 2018.

C~7·

CATHERINE T. MANAHAN

Associate Justice

WE CONCUR:

Presiding Justice

~~F.~-F~ MARIAN I-/y F. REYES-FAJARDO

Associate Justice

CERTIFICATION

Pursuant to Article VIII, Section 13 of the Constitution, it is hereby certified that the conclusions in the above Decision were reached in consultation before the case was assigned to the writer of the opinion of the Court's Division.

Presiding Justice