Panay Power Corporation vs. Commissioner of Internal Revenue

DECISION

REYES-FAJARDO, L;_ Before the Court is a Petition for Reviewl filed by Panay Power Corporation (Panay Power) on May 17, 2021 against the Commissioner of Internal Revenue (CIR) seeking the refund or issuance of a tax credit certificate in the amount of P12,544,784.81 representing alleged excess and unutilized creditable withholding taxes (CWT) relative to taxable year 2018.

FACTS

Petitioner Panay Power Corporation is a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the Republic of the Philippines, with principal address at La Paz, Ingore, Iloilo City, Iloilo.2 It is engaged in the business of generation, collection, and distribution of electricity.3 It is registered with the Large Taxpayers Service, Revenue District Office No. 121 - Excise LT Division I, Bureau

CIA Case No. 10499 of Internal Revenue (BIR), with Tax Identification Number (TIN) 004- 964-861-00000.4 Respondent is the head of the BIR, empowered to perform the duties of the office, including acting upon and approving claims for refund or tax credit. Its office address is at the 5th Floor, BIR National Office Building, BIR Road, Diliman, Quezon City.s On April 12, 2019, Panay Power filed its Annual Income Tax Return (ITR)6 relative to taxable year 2018 through the Electronic Filing and Payment System. It declared an overpayment of income tax in the aggregate amount of P27,055,127.00, computed as follows:7

Net Taxable Income

Income Tax Due Other Than MCIT

Minimum Corporate Income Tax

Total Income Tax Due

Less Prior Year's Excess Credits Other Than MCIT

Subtotal

Less Creditable Tax Withheld per BIR Form No. 2307 From Previous Quarter/ s P9,462,566.00 For the 4th Quarter 3,082,219.00

Net Tax Payable (Overpayment)

P(143,783,906.00) P¹,537,883.00 P1,53 7,883. 00 16,048,225.00 P(14,510,342.00) 12,544,785.00 P(27,055,127.00) Panay Power opted to be refunded of any overpayment by marking the corresponding portion in the ITR.s It carried over the amount representing its prior years' excess credits net of tax due (P14,510,342.00) to taxable year 2019; leaving the credits accrued from taxable year 2018 (P12,544,785.00) unutilized.9 On September 18, 2020, Panay Power filed a claim before the BIR Excise LT Division I (administrative claim) seeking the refund or issuance of tax credit certificate relative to the above-mentioned excess and unutilized credits (P12,544,785.00).1° 4 Par. 4, Stipulation of Facts, JSFI, Docket - Vol. I, p. 310; Exhibit "P-2", Docket- Vol. I, pp. 92 to 93.

s Par. 2, Stipulation of Facts, JSFI, Docket - Vol. I, p. 310. 6 BIR Form No. 1702.

7 Par. 5, Stipulation of Facts, JSPI, Docket - Vol. I, p. 311. s Par. 6, Stipulation of Facts, JSFI, Docket - Vol. I, p. 311. 9 Par. 7, Stipulation of Facts, JSFI, Docket - Vol. I, p. 311. 1o Par. 8, Stipulation of Facts, JSFI, Docket - Vol. I, p. 311.

CfA Case No. 10499

On account of the CIR's inaction on its administrative claim, Panay Power filed the instant petition11 on May 17, 2021 Qudicial claim).

Proceedings before the Court The CIR filed an Answer12 and submitted13 the BIR Records of the case on October 27, 2021 and February 11, 2022, respectively. The parties submitted their respective pre-trial briefs14 and attended the scheduled pre-trial conference,1s where the CIR manifested that it will no longer present documentary and testimonial evidence. Thereafter, the Court resolved16 to approve the parties' Joint Stipulation of Facts and Issues17 and issued a Pre-Trial Order1s dated April 5, 2022.

During trial, the following persons testified for Panay Power: (1) Ms. Reymonda Aida B. Obrero,19 Vice President/ Controller, Panay Power; and (²) Atty. Walter L. Abela, Jr.,20 the Court-commissioned Independent Certified Public Accountant (ICPA). The ICP A's Report and Supplemental Report were submitted to the Court on May 16, 202221 and May 23,2022,22 respectively. Panay Power filed its Formal Offer of Evidence (FOE)23 on July 5, 2022. As the CIR had no express objection,24 the Court resolved to admit petitioner's offered exhibits.2s n Par. 9, Stipulation of Facts, JSFI, Docket- Vol. I, p. 311. 12 Docket- Vol. I, pp. 266 to 271.

13 Compliance dated February 2, 2021, Docket- Vol. I, pp. 285 to 287. 14 For respondent, see Docket- Vol. I, pp. 276-277. For petitioner, see Docket - Vol. I, pp. 291-300. 15 Notice of Pre-trial Conference dated November 18, 2021, Docket- Vol. I, pp. 275 to 275-2; Minutes of the Hearing held on, and Order dated, February 24, 2022, Docket - Vol. I, pp. 303 to 307. 16 In a Resolution dated March 21, 2022. Docket- Vol. I, p. 319. 17 Docket- Vol. I, pp. 310-317.

1s Docket- Vol. I, pp. 352-364.

19 Exhibit "P-9", Docket- Vol. I, pp. 66 to 73; Minutes of the Hearing held on, and Order dated, May 24, 2022, Docket- Vol. II, pp. 504 to 511. 2o Exhibit "P-10", Docket- Vol. I, pp. 340 to 344; Exhibit "P-10-2", Docket- Vol. I, pp. 416 to 422; Exhibit"P-33", Docket- Vol. I, pp. 426 to 434; Minutes of the Hearing held on, and Order dated, May 24, 2022, Docket- Vol. II, pp. 504 to 511. 21 Docket- Vol. I, pp. 375 to 412.

22 Docket - Vol. I, pp. 436 to 502.

23 Docket- Vol. II, pp. 525 to 537.

24 Docket- Vol. II, pp. 539 to 541 .

2s Resolution dated August 5, 2022. Docket- Vol. II, pp. 544 to 547.

After the parties filed their respective Memoranda/6 the case was submitted for decision on September 22, 2022.27

ISSUE

The Court is tasked to ascertain Panay Power's entitlement to a refund or credit of alleged excess and unutilized CWT relative to taxable year 2018.

Petitioner's Arguments

Panay Power anchors its claim on Section 76 of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997 (Tax Code), as amended. It avers as follows: First, the excess and unutilized CWT accrued in 2018 is the proper subject of the instant claim.2s The amount (P12,544,785.00) was expressly intended to be refunded, as specified in its 2018 Annual ITR. Further, it was not carried over to succeeding periods.29 Second, it filed administrative and judicial claims within the reglementary period prescribed by the Tax Code.3o Third, the amount claimed forms part of its 2018 gross income and consists of taxes withheld by customers from its payments to Panay Power for services rendered in 2018 as evidenced by the corresponding CWT Certificates (BIR Form No. 2307).31

Respondent's Arguments

The CIR counters that Panay Power failed to exhaust administrative remedies before elevating the case to the Court. Consequently, the Court has no jurisdiction over the instant claim.32 Additionally, the CIR denies Panay Power's entitlement to a refund or credit33 on account of the latter's (a) failure to present proof of actual remittance of the CWTs sought to be refunded34 and (b) failure to

submit complete supporting documents required by Revenue Memorandum Order No. 53-98.35

OUR RULING

Panay Power's Petition for Review is partly meritorious. Subject of the present case is alleged excess and unutilized CWT, which Panay Power seeks to refund pursuant to Section 76 of the Tax Code, viz.:

SECTION 76. Final Adjustment Return.- Every corporation liable to tax under Section 27 shall file a final adjustment return covering the total taxable income for the preceding calendar or fiscal year. If the sum of the quarterly tax payments made during the said taxable year is not equal to the total tax due on the entire taxable income of that year, the corporation shall either:

(A) Pay the balance of tax still due; or (B) Carry-over the excess credit; or (C) Be credited or refunded with the excess amount paid, as the case may be.

In case the corporation is entitled to a tax credit or refund of the excess estimated quarterly income taxes paid, the excess amount shown on its final adjustment return may be carried over and credited against the estimated quarterly income tax liabilities for the taxable quarters of the succeeding taxable years. Once the option to carry-over and apply the excess quarterly income tax against income tax due for the taxable quarters of the succeeding taxable years has been made, such option shall be considered irrevocable for that taxable period and no application for cash refund or issuance of a tax credit certificate shall be allowed therefor. In this regard, it is already settled that the requisites for claiming a tax refund or credit of CWT are as follows:36 First, the claim must be filed with the CIR within the two (2)-year period from the date of payment of the tax; Second, it must be shown on the return that the income received was declared as part of the gross income; and third,

the fact of withholding must be established by a copy of a statement duly issued by the payor to the payee showing the amount paid and the amount of the tax withheld.

After a careful evaluation of the evidence offered in support of the instant judicial claim, We find in favor of granting Panay Power a refund or credit to the extent of Pl0,844,787.22 Panay Power's administrative and judicial claims were filed within the time prescribed by law.

Excess and unutilized CWT under Section 76 of the Tax Code arises from the overpayment of quarterly income tax. When the taxpayer pays an amount in excess of the tax due, such overpayment is regarded as erroneous. In this regard, the prescriptive period set out in Sections 204 and 229 governs claims for refund or credit of excess or unutilized CWT, viz.:

SEC. 204. Authority of the Commissioner to Compromise, Abate and Refund or Credit Taxes.- xxxx (C) Credit or refund taxes erroneously or illegally received or penalties imposed without authority, refund the value of internal revenue stamps when they are returned in good condition by the purchaser, and, in his discretion, redeem or change unused stamps that have been rendered unfit for use and refund their value upon proof of destruction. No credit or refund of taxes or penalties shall be allowed unless the taxpayer files in writing with the Commissioner a claim for credit or refund within two (2) years after the payment of the tax or penalty: Provided, however, [t]hat a return filed showing an overpayment shall be considered as a written claim for credit or refund.

xxxx SEC. 229. Recovery of Tax Erroneously or Illegally Collected.- No suit or proceeding shall be maintained in any court for the recovery of any national internal revenue tax hereafter alleged to have been erroneously or illegally assessed or collected, or of any penalty claimed to have been collected without authority, of any sum alleged to have been excessively or in any manner wrongfully collected without authority, or of any sum alleged to have been excessively or in any manner wrongfully collected, until a claim for refund or credit has been duly filed with the Commissioner; but such suit or proceeding may be maintained, whether or not such tax, penalty, or sum has been paid under protest or duress.

In any case, no such suit or proceeding shall be filed after the expiration of two (2) years from the date of payment of the tax or penalty regardless of any supervening cause that may arise after payment: Provided, however, [t]hat the Commissioner may, even without a written claim therefor, refund or credit any tax, where on the face of the return upon which payment was made, such payment appears clearly to have been erroneously paid. (Emphasis supplied) The above provisions require both administrative and judicial claims to be filed within the same two-year prescriptive period.37 In this regard, We note that the timeliness of Panay Power's administrative and judicial claims is no longer in question.38 However, the CIR submits that the Court does not have jurisdiction over the instant claim on account of Panay Power's failure to exhaust administrative remedies. To recall, Panay Power filed the present petition without awaiting on the CIR' s decision on its administrative claim.

The CIR's argument has no merit.

In Commissioner of Internal Revenue v. Philippine Bank of Communications,39 the Supreme Court held that "[w]ith reference to Section 229 of the NIRC, the only requirement for a judicial claim of tax credit/refund to be maintained is that a claim of refund or credit has been filed before the CIR; there is no mention in the law that the claim before the CIR should be acted upon first before a judicial claim may be filed." (Emphasis supplied) The first requisite (timeliness) having been satisfied, We now evaluate whether the second and third requisites have likewise been met.

Corresponding income reported in AFS/ITR and fact of withholding.

The present claim consists of alleged excess and unutilized CWTs amounting to P12,544,784.81. The ICPA prepared a breakdown® of this amount based on Panay Power’s 2018 Summary Alphalist of Withholding Tax (SAWT) relative to creditable income taxes withheld as per BIR Form No. 2307, to wit:

Billing

Statement Exhibit

Number 2307 Date Customer Name GrossIncome TaxWithheld Reference __N/A_____ Jan-Mar __ Toledo Holdings Corp. | P1,970,625.50 P 3941251 “P-12” 1,927, 235. 50 ; 38,544.7 71 7 “Pp. 12- 1” : ____ 23,637, 576 50. 472,751.53 “P. 12- 2” f 1148 | a _ March - Panay Electric Co., _ Inc. — “22, "852, 605. 00 a “457, 052. 10 “Pp. 12- rg _1152_ April Panay Electric Co., In 22,513,870.5 450,277.41 “P-12-5" _ a 1159 = May __ Panay ElectricCo.,Inc. ———_—.21,793,890.50 = 435,877. 81 “P-12- 6” 7 1162 ~~—_—iJume Panay Electric Co., Inc. ____ 26,726 498. 50 —-534,5 529. 97 “P-L “ae 7 __1153_ Jan-Mar __ Panay Energy Dev. Corp. __1,634,139.50 32,682.79 “P-12-8” 1157, 1163 © Apr-Jun Panay Energy Dev. Corp. 1, 479,941.50 — 29,598.83 243.9" & __ 1164 1154 a . on moe i 2m —e - —_ ome : 0" 1160 —_—‘ May _Aklan Electric Coop., Inc. rf 256, 801 31. 145, 136. 03 —P-12-11” 1165 June Aklan Electric Coop., Inc. — 7,959,420.97 159,188.42 “P-12-12” 5,774,490.20 115,489.80.

— Aklan Electric Coop., Inc.

7 Panay ElectricCo.,Inc. __-26,147,193.00 522,943.86 “P-12-16" August _ Panay Electric Co., Inc. assess MOE 633 670.00 _ 432, 673. 40 “P-12-17" _ September Panay Electric Co., Inc. _ — _ 21,5778 849.50 431, 556. 99 _ *P-12- 18” 7 _ October Panay Electric Co.,Inc.____-21,387,422.50 427,748.45 “P-12-19" ___ November Panay Electric Co.,Inc. _—-21,441,822.00 428,836.44 “P-12- -20" — _ December _ Panay E Electric om Inc. _ _2L¢ 617, 756. 50 432, 355. 13 | _“P-12-2 at 1171, 1174 Jul-Sep Panay Energy Dev. Corp. 1,391,310.50_ 27,826.21 “P-12-22” & 1180 | 1193 ?

1197 1183. =~ October Aklan Electric Coop., Inc. __ 4, 734, 570.00 04, 691. 40 _ “P-12-7 iad 7 1186 = November _ Aklan Electric > Coop., Inc. __ 4,219,270.32 84,385. 41 “P_12-28”" 95,566.05 “P-12-29" 1177 7 __ September _ _Aklan Electric Coon, oy N/A Oct-Dec Toledo Holdings Corp. __t 308, 333. 00 _.__ 26,066.66 “P-12-31"

CfA Case No. 10499

Billing

Statement

Exhibit

Number

2307 Date

Customer Name

Gross Income

Tax Withheld

Reference

1139

January

Iloilo 1 Electric Coo_e., Inc.

26,308,442.00 526,168.84

"P-12-32"

1147

February

Iloilo 1 Electric Coo_e., Inc.

20,722,252.50 414,445.05

"P-12-33"

1151

March

Iloilo 1 Electric Coo_e., Inc.

20,510,139.50 410,202.79

"P-12-34"

1158 A_eril Iloilo 1 Electric Coop., Inc.

21,378,261.50 427,565.23

"P-12-35"

1172

July

Iloilo 1 Electric Co ~.e.:_, Inc.

21,975,450.00 439,509.00

"P-12-36"

1185

October

Iloilo 1 Electric Coo_e., Inc.

19,957,880.50 399,157.61

"P-12-37"

1161

May

Iloilo 1 Electric Coo_e., Inc.

24,447,682.00 488,953.64

"P-12-38"

1167

June

iloilo 1 Electric Coo_e., Inc.

23,577,356.50 471,547.13

"P-12-39"

1176

August

Iloilo 1 Electric Coo_e., Inc.

21,013,423.00 420,268.46

"P-12-40"

1178 Se_etember Iloilo 1 Electric Coo_e., Inc.

21,657,466.50 433,149.33

"P-12-41"

1187

November

Iloilo 1 Electric Coo_e., Inc.

26,036,846.50 520,736.93

"P-12-42"

1190

December

Iloilo 1 Electric Coo_e., Inc.

23,485,497.50 469,709.95

"P-12-43"

1141 Panay Energy Dev. Cor_e.

1,788.00 35.76

Total

P627,239,242.06 P12,544,784.8441 In determining the CWT amount to be refunded or credited, it is necessary to verify not only whether the claim is supported by the required BIR Forms; it must also correspond with the income included in the tax return of the claimant, upon which the taxes were withheld.42 Thus, We shall first inquire into whether Panay Power established the fact of withholding to the CWTs sought to be refunded or credited, then proceed to verify whether the income with which the claimed CWTs relate were reported as part of gross income in the AFS and ITR. The fact of withholding is established by the CWT certificates (BIR Form No. 2307) which evidence that the corresponding withholding tax was withheld and remitted to the government by the Panay Power's customers, as withholding agents. However, in the course of examining the individual CWT certificates (BIR Form No. 2307) submitted in support of the present claim, We noted the following exceptions:

Billing

Statement

2307

Gross

Number

Date

Customer's Name

Income

Supporting BIR Fonn No. 2307 is dated 2017 1139

January

Iloilo 1 Electric Coop., Inc.

P26,308,442.00 CWT without supporting BIR Fonn No. 2307 1141 Panay Energy Dev. Corp.

1,788.00 41 With P0.03 minor difference per claim.

42 Supra note 37.

Total P26,310,230.00

Tax Withheld

Exhibit

Reference

P 526,168.84

"P-12-32"

35.76 P526,204.60

Stated differently, while the tax withheld by Iloilo 1 Electric Cooperative, Inc. from the amount billed by Panay Power (i.e., Billing Statement No. 1139) is supported by the corresponding BIR Form No. 2307, said certificate is dated "2017" and, thus, out-of-period (i.e., present claim consists of 2018 CWTs). On the other hand, no BIR Form No. 2307 was submitted to support the tax supposedly withheld by Panay Energy Development Corporation from the amount billed as per Billing Statement No. 1141. For these reasons, the amount of P526,204.60 shall be disallowed from Panay Power's total claim. That the income payments related to the claimed CWT formed part of Panay Power's reported income per ITR is evidenced by its 2018 Billing Statements,43 2018 Official Receipts,44 2018 General Ledger,4s 2017 General Ledger,46 Schedule of 2018 Billing Statements which were subjected to CWT,47 Schedule of 2018 Official Receipts net of CWTs,48 Schedule of Total Revenues per 2018 General Ledger,49 Schedule of Total Intercompany Interest Income per 2018 General Ledger,so Schedule of Total Revenues per 2017 General Ledger related to 2018 CWTs,s1 and Schedule of Total Revenues per 2017 General Ledger.52 In particular, the ICPA traced (a) the income reflected in the Summary of 2018 CWTsS³ to the 2018 reported revenues in its 2018 General Ledger,s4 and (b) the total revenues per the 2018 General Ledger (GL) to that reported in the (i) 2018 Audited Financial Statements (AFS),SS as part of Net Fees, Finance Income, or Other Income,s6 and (ii) 2018 ITR,S7 as part of Net Sales/Revenues/Receipts/Fees (Sale of Services)SB or Other Taxable Income.s9 43 Exhibits "P-13" to "P-13-50", USB marked as Exhibit "P-11-2". 44 Exhibits "P-14" to "P-14-48", USB marked as Exhibit "P-11-2". 45 Exhibit "P-27", USB marked as Exhibit "P-11-2". 46 Exhibit "P-28", USBs marked as Exhibits "P-11-2" and "P-30-2". 47 Annex B, Exhibit "P-11", Docket - Vol. I, p. 390. 48 Annex C, Exhibit "P-11", Docket- Vol. I, p. 391. 49 Annex D, Exhibit "P-11", Docket- Vol. I, pp. 392 to 408. so Annex E, Exhibit "P-11", Docket- Vol. I, p. 409. s1 Annex F, Exhibit "P-11", Docket - Vol. I, p. 410. s2 Annex H, Exhibit "P-30", Docket - Vol. I, pp. 442 to 501. 53 Annex A, Exhibit "P-11", Docket - Vol. I, pp. 388 to 389. 54 Annex D, Exhibit "P-11", Docket - Vol. I, pp. 392 to 408; Exhibit "P-27", USB marked as Exhibit "P-11-2".

ss Exhibit "P-4", Docket- Vol. I, pp. 107 to 175. 56 Statements of Comprehensive Income, Exhibit "P-4", Docket- Vol. I, p. 112 57 Item 7, Results of the Procedures Performed, Exhibit "P-4", Docket- Vol. I, pp. 384 to 386. ss Item 30, ITR, Exhibit "P-4", Docket - Vol. I, p. 98.

Based on these procedures, We arrive at the following findings: First, included in the present claim are taxes withheld by Toledo Holdings Corporation (THC) from income payments made to Panay Power in the aggregate amount of P6,573,188.50, computed as follows:

2307Date

Gross Income

Tax Withheld

Exhibit No.

January-March

p 1,970,625.50 p 39,412.51

"P-12"

April-June

1,927,235.50 38,544.71

"P-12-1"

July -September

1,371,994.50 27,439.89

"P-12-30"

October-December

1,303,333.00 26,066.66

"P-12-31"

Total

P6,573,188.50 P131,463. 77 The ICP A reported that the above-enumerated income payments pertained to interest payments from loan agreements between Panay Power and THC. Panay Power recorded these as "Interest Income - Intercompany" in the 2018 General Ledger. In turn, these were reported as Finance Income and Other Income in the 2018 AFS and 2018 Annual ITR, respectively, as confirmed by the ICPA. Second, Panay Power included in its 2018 SAWT, upon which the present claim is based, gross income amounting to P7,959,420.97 billed to Aklan Electric Cooperative, Inc. (AKELCO) as per Billing Statement No. 1165.60 However, only P6,297,945.48 of said amount was traced to the corresponding 2018 General Ledger entries, viz.: Per BIR Form No. 2307 (June)61

Per 2018 General Ledger Entries62

Entry # 16795

P3,720.00

Entry # 16796

3,454,652.20

Gross Income

Tax Withheld

P7,959,420.97 P159,188.42

Entry # 16797

_2~,8_3_9.:_,5_73_._ 28 __ ___:6,'-2_ 97....:..,9_4_5_.4_8 ___ 1_2--'5,'-9-58_. 9_1_63_ P1,661,475.49 P33,229.51 Upon further verification, We found that Billing Statement No. 1165, which charged AKELCO based on the accrued/ estimated electricity purchased, was superseded by Billing Statement No. 1168,64 60 Exhibit "P-13-23", USB marked as Exhibit "P-11-2". 61 Exhibit "P-12-12", USB marked as Exhibit "P-11-2". 62 Annex D, Exhibit "P-11", Docket - Vol. I, p. 399. 63 Corrected/ Should be amount of tax withheld =Actual gross income per GL multiplied by CWT rate = P6,297,945.48 * 2.00% = P125,958.91.

to charge AKELCO for actual electricity pur(:hased. In the 2018 General Ledger, the amount charged in Billing Statement No. 1165 (P7,959,420.97) was initially recorded6S as revenues but also reversed66 later on, in view of the aforesaid adjustment. In turn, Panay Power recorded the adjusted billing67 to reflect the amounts in Billing Statement No. 1168.

Notably, while the billing was already adjusted, the CWT Certificate evidencing this income payment6s shows that AKELCO nonetheless withheld tax at the rate of 2% from the unadjusted amount based on Billing Statement No. 1165 (P7,959,420.97). In other words, only the amount reflected on Billing Statement No. 1168 (P6,297,945.48) could be confirmed as reported in the 2018 General Ledger and, consequently, the 2018 AFS and ITR. In which case, the correct amount of tax withheld by AKELCO should have been P125,958.91. As the CWT claimed on this transaction is overstated, the excess of P33,229.51 shall be disallowed from the present claim. Third, Panay Power issues Billing Statements to charge its customers for electricity fees based on the latter's consumption. The amounts billed are recorded as revenues in the general ledger. When a customer pays the amount billed, Panay Power issues a corresponding Official Receipt and, on its face, identifies the Billing Statement reference number and amount of electricity fees to which the payment corresponds.

During 2018, collected payments from AKELCO amounting to P51,253,693.11, net of withholding tax amounting to P1,025,073.87 (part of the present claim), representing electricity fees charged to the latter for a given period. Verily, the amounts of collections and taxes withheld were traced to the corresponding CWT Certificates and 2018 SAWT Entries (i.e., to ascertain the fact of withholding). However, the electricity fees indicated on the Official Receipts do not correspond to those charged in the Billing Statements and, consequently, to the revenue entries in the 2018 General Ledger, v iz.: &s Entry Nos. 14543-45, Atmex D, Exhibit "P-11", Docket - Vol. I, p. 398.

Tax Withheld Revenue / Electricity Fees

Per. 2307/OR Per Official Receipt Per Billing Statement / General Ledger Exh Amount Ref Exh Amount BS Ref Exh GL Ref Amount “"P-12-10" —-P126,77259 3251 "P1413" P6,338,62954 1154 "P1314" 36169 —P6,603,934.73 —"P-12-11" 145,136.08 3262 "P-14-23" —7,256,801.31 1160 "P-1318" 36640 _—7,331,901.87 "P-13-1" 34567 5,812,548.54 "P-13-6" 35325 5,982,750.98 "P-12-15" 139,695.95 3239 "P-146" —6,984,79741 1150 "P-1310" 35726 70 050,009.79 —"P-12-24" 111,339.24 3286 "P-14-24" 5,566,961.89 1169 "P-13-27" 37553 ——5,810,59258 -"P-12-25" 109,708.21 3297 "P-14-25" — 5,485,410.67_ 1175 _ a 13-33" 38020 —_5,565,137.98 "P1228" 84,385.41 3884 "P1437" __'P- 13.43" ~ 39248 4,338 490.60 "P-12-29" 95,566. 05— ~ 3346 "P-14-38" 4,778,302 39° ~ 1192 "Pp. 13-48" 39682 4,795,936.53 P1,140,563.67 P57,028,183.31 P58,117,049.70 Stated differently, the amounts collected from AKELCO net of withholding tax (in the aggregate amount of P57,028,183.31) do not match the revenues recorded in the 2018 General Ledger (in the aggregate amount of (P58,117,049.70). There is no submission on the record that explains this variance. As it could not be ascertained that the income payments to which the above-enumerated amounts claimed as CWT relate formed part of Panay Power’s reported income per ITR, the amount of P1,140,563.67 shall also be disallowed.

Submission of complete documents upon filing of administrative claim; Proof of actual remittance, not indispensable to judicial claim.

The CIR’s remaining counter-arguments also do not persuade.

First, the basic rule is that defenses and objections not pleaded either in a motion to dismiss or in the answer are deemed waived. To stress, the litigant is required to plead all objections available at the earliest opportunity. Otherwise, it will no longer be regarded as effective refutations to the counter-party’s claims.®?

Here, the CIR raised the above-mentioned defenses (i.e., non- submission of complete documents and of proof of actual remittance) for the first time in its Memorandum dated August 18, 2022.70 69 Also see Section 9, Rule 15, Rules of Court, as amended.

Certainly, these could have been raised in its Answer. The belatedness of the CIR' s invocation of these arguments bars consideration thereof.

Courts

look with disfavor on piecemeal arguments 1n motions/ pleadings filed by the parties.71 Second, at any rate, the CIR' s arguments are nonetheless unmeritorious. These matters have already been settled by jurisprudence.

In Commissioner of Internal Revenue v. Philippine Bank of Communications,72 the Supreme Court declared that the claimant's failure to comply with the requirements of its administrative claim for CWT refund/ credit (i.e., does not preclude its judicial claim). Further, in Commissioner of Internal Revenue v. Team [Philippines] Operations Corp./3 the Supreme Court also confirmed that proof of actual remittance of taxes withheld is not required in establishing a claimant's entitlement to a refund or credit of excess and unutilized CWT. In any case, Panay Power's claim is supported by the CWT Certificates (BIR Form No. 2307) issued by the individual payors/ customers and We have verified the same. As mentioned above, the certificates demonstrate the fact of withholding and, to Our mind, constitute prima facie evidence of actual remittance of the corresponding tax by the withholding agent. Inasmuch as the CIR has not offered evidence to refute this presumption, We are inclined to uphold the probative value of these certificates.

Summary

Based on the foregoing discussions, We find that Panay Power is entitled to the refund or credit of the amount of P10,844,787.06, computed as follows:

Total claim less Disallowed Items Out-of-period/ unsubstantiated

Overstated CWT

Not established as forming part of 2018 reported revenues Net claim/ to be refunded or credited P12,544,784.84 (526,204.60) (33,229.51) (1,140,563.67) Pl0,844,787.06 71 Tung Ho Steel Enterprises Corp. v. Ting Guan Trading Corp., G.R. No. 182153, April 7, 2014. n Supra note 37.

73 G.R. No. 179260, April 2, 2014.

~ )

CfA Case No. 10499

WHEREFORE, the instant Petition for Review is PARTIALLY GRANTED. Accordingly, respondent is DIRECTED TO REFUND OR ISSUE A TAX CREDIT CERTIFICATE in favor of petitione~ Panay Power Corporation in the amount P10,844,787.06. representing its excess and unutilized CWTs relative to taxable year 2018.

WE CONCUR:

Presiding Justice

~ ~f.~-- ~rAJ~ MARIAN IVYJF. REY~S-FAJARDO

Associate Justice

~'/=- CATHERINE T. MANAHAN

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 o! . the opinion of the Court.

Presiding Justice