Sonoma Services, Inc. vs. Commissioner of Internal Revenue

DECISION

MINDARO-GRULLA, l_.:

This is a Petition for Review filed on April 11, 2012 by Sonoma Services, Inc. as petitioner, against Commissioner of Internal Revenue as respondent for the Court in Division, pursuant to Section 7(a)(1) of Republic Act (RA) No. 1125, An Act Creating t he Court of Tax Appeals, as amended\ as well as Ru le 4, Section 3(a)(2), in relation to Rule 8, Section 4(a) of t he Revised Rules of the Court of Tax Appeals (RRCTA?, as amended.( Sec. 7. Jurisdiction . - The CTA shall exercise:

(a) Exclusive appellate jurisdiction to review by appeal, as herein provided:

XXX

XXX

(2) Decisions of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue in cases involving disputed assessments, refunds or internal revenue taxes, fees of other charges, penalties in relation thereto, or other matters arising under the National Internal Revenue Code or other laws administered by the Bureau of Internal Revenue;

XXX

XXX

2 Rule 4, Sec. 3. Cases within the jurisdiction of the Court in Division. - The Court in Division shall exercise:

(a) Exclusive original over or appellate jurisdiction to review by appeal the following:

XXX

XXX

Sonoma Services Inc. v. CIR

Petitioner seeks the refund or issuance of a tax credit certificate (TCC) in the amount of P4,045,410.00, allegedly representing its excess and unutilized creditable withholding taxes (CWT) for calendar year (CY) 2009. Petitioner is a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the Republic of the Philippines, with principal place of business at the 35th Floor, Tower One and Exchange Plaza, Ayala Triangle, Ayala Avenue, Makati City. It is a registered taxpayer of Revenue District Office (ROO) No. 50 of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Revenue Region No. 8, with Taxpayer Identification No. 220-868-954- 000. 3 Petitioner was incorporated with the primary purpose of carrying on and conducting a general services business~

(2) Inaction by the Commissioner of Internal Revenue in cases involving disputed assessments, refunds of internal revenue taxes, fees or other charges, penalties in relation thereto, or other matters arising under the National Internal Revenue Code or other laws administered by the Bureau of Internal Revenue, where the National Internal Revenue Code or other applicable law provides a specific period for action: Provided, that in case of disputed assessments, the inaction of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue within the one hundred eighty day-period under Section 228 of the National Internal Revenue Code shall be deemed a denial for purposes of allowing the taxpayer to appeal his case to the Court and does not necessarily constitute a formal decision of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue on the tax case; Provided, further, that should the taxpayer opt to await the final decision of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue on the disputed assessments beyond the one hundred eighty day-period abovementioned, the taxpayer may appeal such final decision to the Court under Section 3(a), Rule 8 of these Rules;

XXX

XXX

Rule 8. Sec. 4. Where to appeal; mode of appeal.- (a) An appeal from a decision or ruling or the inaction of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue on disputed assessments or claim for refund of internal revenue taxes erroneously or illegally collected, the decision or ruling of the Commissioner of Customs, the Secretary of Finance, the Secretary of Trade & Industry, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the Regional Trial Court in the exercise of their original jurisdiction, shall be taken to the Court by filing before it a petition for review as provided in Rule 42 of the Rules of Court. The Court in Division shall act on the appeal.

XXX

XXX

3 Pars. 1 and 2, Admitted Facts, Joint Stipulation of Facts and Issues (JSFI), Docket,

p. 84.

Sonoma Services Inc. v. CIR with any party, including rendering of management and allied services within the limits allowed by law, including office and clerical support services, maintenance services of any kind, or otherwise to engage in any preservation, maintenance or rapid work upon any and every kind of property, to enter into and execute contracts therefore or relating thereto.

Respondent is the duly appointed Commissioner of the Bureau of Internal Revenue, vested with authority to carry out all the functions, duties and responsibilities of said office, including, inter alia, the power to decide, approve, and grant refunds or tax credits of overpaid or erroneously paid or collected internal revenue taxes. She holds office at the BIR National Office Building, Diliman, Quezon City. On April 15, 2010, petitioner filed its Annual Income Tax Return (ITR) for CY 2009 through the Electronic Filing and Payment System (EFPS) with EFPS Reference No. 121000003720677.4 In the said ITR, petitioner reported gross revenues in the amount of P44,641,000.00, taxable income of P3,319,677.00, income tax liability of P995,903.10, and income tax credits in the total amount of P6,307,844.60.

After deducting petitioner's income tax liability for CY 2009 from its income tax credits for CY 2009, petitioner had a tax overpayment of P5,311,941.50. Petitioner opted to claim a refund by shading the appropriate box in the ITR.

On June 24, 2010, petitioner filed its administrative claim for refund of excess and unutilized CWT for CY 2009 amounting to P4,045,410.00 with ROO No. 50. 5 Respondent failed to act on petitioner's administrative claim, prompting petitioner to file the instant claim before this Court on April 11, 2012. £ 4 Exhibit " B".

5 Exhibit "A".

Sonoma Services Inc. v. CIR

In her Answer6 filed on May 31, 2012, respondent alleged the following Special and Affirmative Defenses: "4) Respondent reiterates and rep leads the preceding paragraphs of the answer as part of her Special and Affirmative Defenses; 5) Petitioner's claim for refund is still subject to investigation by the Bureau of Internal Revenue; 6) Petitioner failed to demonstrate that the tax, which is the subject of this case, was erroneously or illegally collected;

7) It is explicitly stated under Section 76 of the NIRC of (1997), as amended, that once a taxpayer chooses the option of carry-over, it shall be irrevocable for that taxable period and no application for a tax refund or tax credit certificate shall then be allowed (Philam Asset Management, Inc. vs. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, G.R. Nos. 156637/162004, December 14, 2005). Petitioner, therefore, must prove that it did not carry-over its 2009 alleged unutilized creditable withholding taxes to the succeeding taxable quarters/years, otherwise, petitioner is precluded from claiming (from claiming) a cash refund or for issuance of tax credit certificate its excess tax credit for taxable year 2009. 8) Taxes paid and collected are presumed to be made in accordance with the laws and regulations, hence, not refundable;

9) In an action for tax credit or refund, the burden is upon the taxpayer to prove that he is entitled thereto, and failure to discharge the said burden is fatal to the claim (Emmanuel & Zenaida Aguilar v. Commissioner, CA-GR No. Sp. 16432, March 30, 1990 cited in Aban, Law of Basic Taxation in the Philippines, 1st Edition, p. 206) ;{ 6 Docket, pp. 56-58.

Sonoma Services Inc. v. CIR

10) It is incumbent upon petitioner to show that it has complied with the provisions of Section 76 in relation to Section 204 and 229 of the 1997 Tax Code, as amended, including Revenue Regulations No. 2-98, as amended.

11) Claims for refund are construed strictly against the claimant, the same partake the nature of exemption from taxation (Commissioner of Internal Revenue vs. Ledesma, 31 SCRA 95) and as such, they are looked upon with disfavor.

(Western

Minolco Corp. vs. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, 124 SCRA 121)."

Petitioner filed its Pre-trial Brief on July 2, 2012; while respondent filed her Pre-trial Brief8 on June 21, 2012. The pre-trial conference was terminated upon the Court's approval of the Joint Stipulation of Facts and Issues9 in a Resolution 10 dated July 26, 2012. On September 13, 2012, upon motion 11 of petitioner, this Court appointed Ms.

Katherine 0. Constantino as Independent Certified Public Accountant (CPA). During trial, petitioner presented two (2) witnesses, namely: Ms. Vanessa Maturana-Besas and Ms. Katherine 0. Constantino.

Petitioner's documentary evidence which were formally offered and admitted are as follows:

EXHIBIT

"A"

7 Docket, pp. 65-74.

8 Docket, pp. 60-62.

9 Docket pp. 84-87.

10 Docket, p. 89.

11 Docket, p. 111-114.

DESCRIPTION

Petitioner's letter dated June 23, 2010 addressed

to the Bureau of Internal

Revenue (" BIR"),

Revenue

District

Office

(" RDO")

No.

50, requesting the refund of petitioner's excess and ( Sonoma Services Inc. v. CIR

EXHIBIT

DESCRIPTION

unutilized creditable withholding taxes ("CWT") for calendar year ("CY") ending December 31, 2009 in the amount of P4,045,410.00, stamped received by the BIRon June 24 2010.

"B"

Petitioner's Annual Income Tax Return ("ITR") for

the CY ending December 31, 2009, electronically filed with the BIR through the Electronic Filing and Payment System ("EFPS") on April 15, 2010 with Filing Reference No. 121000003720677

"B-1"

Line 15 of petitioner's Annual ITR for CY 2009 showing the amount P44,641,000.00, representing petitioner's gross sales/revenues/receipts for CY 2009

"B-2"

Line 29 of petitioner's Annual ITR for CY 2009 showing the amount (P5,311,941.50), representing petitioner's tax overpayment for CY 2009

"B-3"

Tick mark ("•") appearing on the box next to the words "To be refunded" below

Line

31 of petitioner's Annual ITR for CY 2009

"B-4"

Petitioner's Audited Financial Statements for CY

2009 attached to the petitioner's Annual ITR for

CY 2009

"C"

Petitioner's Quarterly ITR for the 1st quarter of CY 2009, electronically filed with the BIR through the EFPS on May 29, 2009 with Filing Reference No. 130900002995998

"D"

Petitioner's Quarterly ITR for the 2nd quarter of CY 2009, electronically filed with the BIR through the EFPS on August 24, 2009 with Filing Reference No. 130900003174691

"E"

Petitioner's Quarterly ITR for the 3rd quarter of CY 2009, electronically filed with the BIR through the EFPS on November 27, 2009 with Filing Reference No. 130900003372478

"F"

Petitioner's

Annual

ITR

for the

CY

ending December 31, 2010, electronically filed with the BIR through EFPS on April 15, 2011 with Filing Reference No. 121100004688855

"F-1"

Line 30A of petitioner's Annual ITR for CY 2010 showing the amount P1,266,531.50, representing petitioner's "prior year's excess credits" for CY 2010

"G"

Petitioner's Quarterly ITR for the 1st quarter of CY 2010, electronically filed with the BIR through EFPS on May 28, 2010 with Filing Reference No. 131000003822542

"G-1"

Line 30A of petitioner's Quarterly ITR for the 1st quarter of

CY

2010 showing the amount P1,266,531.50, representing petitioner's "prior year's excess credits" for CY 2010

"H"

Petitioner's Quarterly ITR for the 2na quarter of CY 2010 electronically filed with the BIR through Sonoma Services Inc. v. CIR

EXHIBIT

DESCRIPTION

EFPS on August 24, 2010 with Filing Reference No. 131000004032924

"H-1"

Line 30A of petitioner's Quarterly ITR for the 2nd quarter of

CY

2009 showing the amount P1,266,531.50, representing petitioner's "prior year's excess credits" for CY 2010

"I"

Petitioner's Quarterly ITR for the 3ra quarter of CY 2010, electronically filed with the BIR through EFPS on November 23, 2010 with Filing Reference No. 131000004252932

"I -1"

Line 30A of petitioner's Quarterly ITR for the 3ra quarter of

CY

2010 showing the amount P1,266,531.50, representing petitioner's "prior year's excess credits" for CY 2010

"J"

Petitioner's Annual ITR for CY ending December 31, 2003, stamped received by the BIR on April 15 2004

"K"

Petitioner's Annual ITR for CY ending December 31, 2004, stamped received by the BIR on April 14, 2005

"L"

Petitioner's Annual ITR for CY ending December 31, 2005, stamped received by the BIR on April 17, 2006

"L-1"

Petitioner's Amended ITR for CY ending December 31, 2005, stamped received by the BIRon June 1, 2006

"M"

Petitioner's Annual ITR for CY ending December 31, 2006, stamped received by the BIR on April 16, 2007

"N"

Petitioner's Annual ITR for CY ending December 31, 2007, stamped received by the BIR on April 15, 2008 "0" Petitioner's Annual ITR for CY ending December 31, 2008, stamped received by the BIR on April 15, 2009

"P"

Petitioner's Breakdown of Revenues for CY 2009

"P-1"

Certificate of Creditable Tax Withheld at Source

(BIR Form No. 2307) issued by Corullon Holdings, Inc. to petitioner for the 1st quarter of CY 2009, covering withholding tax credits in the amount of fl231 000.00 ''P-2"

Certificate of Creditable Tax Withheld at Source

(BIR Form No. 2307) issued by Elija Holdings, Inc. to petitioner for the 1st quarter of CY 2009, covering withholding tax credits in the amount of fl231 000.00

"P-3"

Certificate of Creditable Tax Withheld at Source

(BIR Form No. 2307) issued by FBC Holdings, Inc. to petitioner for the 1st quarter of CY 2009, covering withholding tax credits in the amount of fl231 000.00

" P-4"

Certificate of Creditable Tax Withheld at Source

(BIR Form No. 2307) issued by Fercat Holdings, Sonoma Services Inc. v. CIR

EXHIBIT

DESCRIPTION

Inc. to petitioner for the 1st quarter of CY 2009, covering withholding tax credits in the amount of fl231,000.00

"P-5"

Certificate of Creditable Tax Withheld at Source

(BIR Form No. 2307) issued by Gilmon Holdings, Inc. to petitioner for the 1st quarter of CY 2009, covering withholding tax credits in the amount of fl231,000.00

"P-6"

Certificate of Creditable Tax Withheld at Source

(BIR Form No. 2307) issued by Mermac, Inc. to petitioner for the 1st quarter of CY 2009, covering withholding tax credits in the amount of fl255,915.00

"P-7"

Certificate of Creditable Tax Withheld at Source

(BIR Form No. 2307) issued by Reinosa Holdings, Inc. to petitioner for the 1st quarter of CY 2009, covering withholding tax credits in the amount of fl231 000.00

"P-8"

Certificate of Creditable Tax Withheld at Source

(BIR Form No. 2307) issued by San Puente Holdings, Inc. to petitioner for the 1st quarter of CY 2009, covering withholding tax credits in the amount of fl231 000.00

"P-9"

Certificate of Creditable Tax Withheld at Source

(BIR Form No. 2307) issued by Francisco R. Elizalde (Steps Dance Studio) to petitioner for the l st quarter of CY CY 2009, covering withholding tax credits in the amount of fllS,OOO.OO

"P-10"

Certificate of Creditable Tax Withheld at Source

(BIR Form No. 2307) issued by Padilla, Alejandro, Zobel to petitioner for the l 5t quarter of CY 2009, covering withholding tax credits in the amount of fl120 000.00

" P-11"

Certificate of Creditable Tax Withheld at Source

(BIR Form No. 2307) issued by Francisco R. Elizalde (Steps Dance Studio) to petitioner for the 2nd quarter of CY 2009, covering withholding tax credits in the amount of fllS 000.00

"P- 12"

Certificate of Creditable Tax Withheld at Source

(BIR Form No. 2307) issued by Corullon Holdings, Inc. to petitioner for the 3rd quarter of CY 2009, covering withholding tax credits in the amount of fl231,000.00

"P-13"

Certificate of Creditable Tax Withheld at Source

(BIR Form No. 2307) issued by Elija Holdings, Inc. to petitioner for the 3rd quarter of CY 2009, covering withholding tax credits in the amount of fl231/000 .00

"P-14"

Certificate of Creditable Tax Withheld at Source

(BIR Form No. 2307) issued by FBC Holdings, Inc. to petitioner for the 3rd quarter of CY 2009, covering withholding tax credits in the amount of fl231 000.00 Sonoma Services Inc. v. CIR

EXHIBIT

DESCRIPTION

"P-15"

Certificate of Creditable Tax Withheld at Source

(BIR Form No. 2307) issued by Fercat Holdings, Inc. to petitioner for the 3rd quarter of CY 2009, covering withholding tax credits in the amount of P231 000.00

"P-16"

Certificate of Creditable Tax Withheld at Source

(BIR Form No. 2307) issued by Gilman Holdings, Inc. to petitioner for the 3rd quarter of CY 2009, covering withholding tax credits in the amount of P231 000.00

"P-17"

Certificate of Creditable Tax Withheld at Source

(BIR Form No. 2307) issued by Mermac, Inc. to petitioner for the 3rd quarter of CY 2009, covering withholding tax credits in the amount of P255 915.00

"P-18"

Certificate of Creditable Tax Withheld at Source

(BIR Form No. 2307) issued by Reinosa Holdings, Inc. to petitioner for the 3rd quarter of CY 2009, covering withholding tax credits in the amount of P231,000.00

"P-19"

Certificate of Creditable Tax Withheld at Source

(BIR Form No. 2307) issued by San Puente Holdings, Inc. to petitioner for the 3rd quarter of CY 2008, covering withholding tax credits in the amount of P231 1000.00

"P-20"

Certificate of Creditable Tax Withheld at Source

(BIR Form No. 2307) issued by Padilla, Alejandro, Zobel to petitioner for the 3rd quarter of CY 2009, covering withholding tax credits in the amount of P119,580.00

"P-21"

Certificate of Creditable Tax Withheld at Source

(BIR Form No. 2307) issued by Francisco R. Elizalde (Steps Dance Studio) to petitioner for the 3rd quarter of CY 2009, covering withholding tax credits in the amount of P15,000.00

"P-22"

Certificate of Creditable Tax Withheld at Source

(BIR Form No. 2307) issued by Francisco R.

Elizalde

(Steps

Dance

Studio)

to

SSI

for December 2009, covering withholding tax credits in the amount of P15 000.00

"Q"

Petitioner's Summary of Creditable Withholding

Taxes (per BIR Form 2307) for CY 2009

"R"

Sworn Statement of Ms. Vanessa Maturana-Besas to Questions Propounded by Atty. Timothy John G. Rocamora dated July 31 2012

"R-1"

Signature

of Ms.

Vanessa

Maturana-Besas

appearing on page 14 of the Sworn Statement dated July 31 2012

"R-2"

Petitioner's Submission dated July 31, 2012, duly filed with the Court of Tax Appeals, Third Division on even date

"S"

Sworn Statement of Ms. Katherine 0. Constantino to Questions Propounded by Atty. Timothy John Sonoma Services Inc. v. CIR

EXHIBIT

DESCRIPTION

G. Rocamora dated October 19 2012

"S- 1"

Signature

of Ms.

Katherine

0 .

Constantino

appearing on page 18 of the October 19, 2012

Sworn Statement

" S-2"

Submission dated October 19, 2012 covering the Sworn Statement of Ms. Constantino

"AA"

Independent

Certified

Public

Accountant's

("ICPA") Report dated October 12, 2012, filed with the Court of Tax Appeals on the same date

"AA-1"

Signature

of Ms.

Katherine 0.

Constantino

appearing on page 39 of the ICPA Report

"BB-1" to

Petitioner's General Ledgers for CY 2009, for

"BB- 11"

administration fees, recovery on costs, rental expense, insurance expenses, supplies, advertising and promotions, representation, transportation, bank charges, Christmas gifts and miscellaneous expense

"CC"

Summary of Official Receipts on administration fees received by Qetitioner in CY 2009

"CC-1-A" to

Official receipts covering the administration fees

"CC-25"

received by petitioner in CY 2009

" DD-1" to

Management

Services

Agreements

between

" DD-10"

petitioner and its clients/withholding agents for CY 2009

"EE-l" to

Cost Recovery Agreements between petitioner

"EE-3"

and its clients/withholding agents for CY 2009

"FF"

Annual Information Return of Creditable Income

(including

Taxes

Withheld

(Expanded)/Income

Payments

"FF- 1" to

Exempt from Withholding Tax (BIR Form 1604-E), "FF- 12-B"),

Monthly Remittance Return of Creditable Income

"GG"

Taxes Withheld (Expanded) (BIR Form 1601-E), (including and Monthly Alphalist of Payees (MAP) covering

"GG-1" to

the withholding taxes remitted by petitioner's "GG-12"), withholding agents-clients for CY 2009

"HH"

(including

"HH- 1" to

" HH-12-B"),

"II"

(including "II -1 " to "II- 12-B"), "JJ" (including "JJ-1" to "JJ- 12"), "KK" (including

" KK-1" to

" KK-12-B"),

"LL"

(including

"LL-1" to

"LL-12-B"),

" MM"

Sonoma Services Inc. v. CIR

EXHIBIT

DESCRIPTION

(including

"MM-1" to

"M M-12") I

"NN"

(including

" NN-1" to

"NN-4-B"), and "00" (including "00-1" to "00-12"), inclusive of sub- markings

"PP"

Independent CPA's Report for CTA Case No. 7613 dated January 19 2009

"QQ"

!CPA's Report for CTA Case No. 7757 dated January 19, 2009

"RR"

!CPA's Report in CTA Case No.

7911 dated October 15, 2009, filed with the Court of Tax Appeals on the same date

"SS"

!CPA's Report in CTA Case No. 8266 dated October 12, 2011, filed with the Court of Tax Appeals on the same date

"TT"

Summary of petitioner's Creditable Withholding

Taxes (per BIR Form 2307) for CY 2007

"TT- 1" to

CWT

Certificates

(BIR Form

2307) covering

"TT-23"

petitioner's CWTs for CY 2007 in the total amount of P3,643 050.00

"UU"

Petitoner's audited financial statements for CY 2007

"VV"

Breakdown of petitioner's revenues for CY 2007

"WW-1" to

Petitioner's General Ledgers for CY 2007, for

"WW-11"

administration fees, recovery on costs, rental expense, insurance expenses, supplies, advertising and promotions, representation, transportation, bank charges, miscellaneous expense and realized loss on foreign exchange loss

"XX"

Reclassifying entry on Recovery on Costs for CY 2007

"YY"

Summary of Official Receipts on administration fees received by petitioner in CY 2007

"YY -1-A" to

Official Receipts covering the administration fees

"YY-25"

received by petitioner in CY 2007 inclusive of sub- markings

"ZZ"

Annual Information Return of Creditable Income

(including

Taxes

Withheld

(Expanded)/Income

Payments

"ZZ-1" to

Exempt from Withholding Tax (BIR Form 1604-E),

"ZZ- 12")

Monthly Remittance Return of Creditable Income (

Sonoma Services Inc. v. CIR

EXHIBIT

"AAA"

(including

"AAA-1" to

"AAA-12-B"),

"BBB"

(including

"BBB-1" to

"BBB-12-B"),

"CCC"

(including

"CCC-1" to

"CCC-12"),

"DDD"

(including

"DDD-1" to

"DDD-12- B"), "EEE" (including

"EEE-1" to

"EEE-12-B"),

"FFF"

(including

"FFF-1" to

"FFF-12"),

"GGG"

(including

"GGG-1" to

"GGG-12"),

"HHH"

(including

"HHH-1" to

"HHH-12- B"), "III" (including "111-1" to

"111-8-B")

and "JJJ"

(including

"JJJ-1" to

"JJJ-12-B"), inclusive of sub- markings

DESCRIPTION

Taxes Withheld (Expanded) (BIR Form 1601-E), and Monthly Alphalist of Payees (MAP) covering the withholding taxes remitted by petitioner's withholding agents-clients for CY 2007

"KKK"

Summary of petitioner's Creditable Withholding

Taxes (per BIR Form 2307) for CY 2003

"KKK-1" to

CWT certificates (per BIR Form 2307) covering

"KKK-45"

petitioner's CWTs for CY 2003 in the total amount of P2 506 600.00

"LLL"

Petitoner's audited financial statements for CY 2003

"MMM"

Breakdown of petitioner's revenues for CY 2003

"NNN-1" to

Management

Services

Agreements

between

"NNN-21"

petitioner and its clients/withholding agents for CY (.' Sonoma Services Inc. v. CIR

EXHIBIT

"000-1" to "000-4"

"PPP-1" to

"PPP-10"

"QQQ-1-A"

to "QQQ-28-

B"

DESCRIPTION

2003 Cost Recovery Agreements between petitioner and its clients/withholding agents for CY 2003 Petitioner's General Ledgers for CY 2003, for administration fees, miscellaneous income, sale of equipment and supplies, insurance expense, supplies, advertising and promotions, representation expenses, transportation, miscellaneous expense and bank charges Official Receipts covering the administration fees received by petitioner in CY 2003

"RRR-1" to

Petitioner's Cash Receipts Vouchers for CY 2003

"RRR-6"

"SSS"

(including

"SSS-1" to

"SSS-12-A"), "TTT'' (including

"TTT-1" to

"TTT -12 -A"),

"UUU"

(including

"UUU-1" to

"UUU-12- A"), "VVV" (including

"VVV-1" to

"VVV-12-A"),

"WWW"

(including

"WWW-1" to

"WWW-12- A"), "XXX" (including

"XXX-1" to

"XXX-12-A"),

''YYY''

(including

"YYY -1" to

"YYY-12-A"),

"ZZZ"

(including

"ZZZ-1" to

"ZZZ-12-A"),

"AAAA"

(including

"AAAA-1" to

"AAAA- 12"),

"BBBB"

Annual Information Return of Creditable Income

taxes

Withheld

(Expanded)/Income

Payments

Exempt from Withholding Tax (BIR Form 1604-E),

Monthly Remittance Return of Creditable Income

Taxes Withheld (Expanded) (BIR Form 1601-E), and

BTR-BIR

Deposit

Slips/Official

Receipts

covering the withholding taxes remitted by petitioner's withholding agents-clients for CY 2003 (including

"BBBB-1" to

~==~~=-L-------------------------------~ (

Sonoma Services Inc. v. CIR

EXHIBIT

"BBBB-12") 1

"CCCC"

(including

"CCCC-1" to

"CCCC-12") 1

"DODD"

(including

"DDDD-1" to

"DDDD-11") 1

"EEEE"

(including

"EEEE-1" to

"EEEE-12-

A") I \\ FFFF"

(including

"FFFF-1" to

"FFFF-12-

A") I "GGGG"

(including

"GGGG-1" to

"GGGG-12-

A")1 "HHHH"

(including

"HHHH-1" to

"HHHH-12-

A")1 "IIII"

(including

"IIII-1" to

"IIII -12 -A") I

"JJJJ"

(including

"JJJJ-1" to

"JJJJ-11")1

"KKKK"

(including

"KKKK-1" to

"KKKK-12-

A") I \\ LLLL"

(including

"LLLL -1" to

\\ LLLL -4-A") I

and "MMMM"

(including

"MMMM-1"

to "MMMM-

3-A")1

inclusive of sub- markings

"NNNN"

DESCRIPTION

Sworn

Statement of Ms.

Marivic F.

Lao

to Questions Propounded by Atty. Mardomeo N. Raymundo dated October 181 2007 in CTA Case L_ ________ _L~N=o~·~7~6=1=3------------------------------~< Sonoma Services Inc. v. CIR

On the other hand, respondent, through counsel, manifested that she would no longer present any witness and that she would be submitting the case for decision. Counsels for both parties were given thirty (30) days from February 18, 2013 to file their respective Memoranda. 12 On April 26, 2013, the case was deemed submitted for decision after petitioner filed its Memorandum on April 10, 2013 and respondent filed her Memorandum on April 15, 2013. 13 The main issue14 as stated in the Joint Stipulation of Facts and Issues is as follows: "WHETHER

OR

NOT

PETITIONER

IS

ENTITLED TO ITS CLAIM FOR REFUND OF OR

ISSUANCE

OF

TCC

FOR

ITS

EXCESS

AND

UNUTILIZED CWT FOR CY 2009 IN THE AMOUNT

OF PHP4,045,410.00."

Section 76 of the National Internal Revenue Code

(NIRC) of 1997, as amended, provides: "SEC.

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. c 12 Docket, p. 826.

13 Docket, p. 864.

14 Docket, p. 86.

Sonoma Services Inc. v. CIR

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 tax credit certificate shall be allowed therefor. " Pursuant to the above-quoted provision, the corporate taxpayer's excess tax credits or overpaid income tax in a given taxable year may either be refunded (either in the form of cash or tax credit certificate) or carried over/applied to the succeeding taxable years. The carry-over option, however, once taken is irrevocable for that taxable period and no application for a tax refund or issuance of a tax credit certificate shall then be allowed. 15 In exercising its option, the corporation must signify in its Annual Corporate Adjustment Return (by marking the option box provided in the BIR Form) its intention either to carry over the excess credit or to claim a refund. To facilitate tax collection, the remedies are in the alternative and the choice of one precludes the other.16 A review of petitioner's Annual Income Tax Return 17 for the year 2009 shows that petitioner had total tax credits in the amount of P6,307,844.60, which consisted of the prior year's excess credits in the amount of P2,262,434.60 and creditable taxes withheld during the year in the amount of P4,045,410.00, to wit:

Prior Year's Excess Credits

p 2 262 434.60 Add : I Creditable Taxes Withheld during the I 15 Phi/am Asset Management, Inc. vs. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, G.R. Nos. 156637 and 162004, December 14, 2005; Systra Philippines, Inc. vs. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, G.R. Nos. 176290, September 21, 2007. 16 Philippine Bank of Communications vs. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, et. at., G.R. No. 112024, January 28, 1999. 17 Exhibit " B".

Sonoma Services Inc. v. CIR year

For the First Three Quarters

For the Fourth Quarter

Total Tax Credits

Page 17 of 24

P4 030 410.00 15 000.00 4 045,410.00 P6,307 ,844.60 Records reveal that the prior year's excess credits of P2,262,434.60 originated from the creditable taxes withheld for the year 2007 in the amount of P3,089,843.00 18 duly supported by Certificates of Creditable Tax Withheld at Source (BIR Form No. 2307), after deducting therefrom the income tax due for the taxable years 2007 and 2008 in the respective amounts of P756,740.00 and P827,408.00, as shown hereunder:

AITR For theTaxable Year 2007

Exhibit "N"

Prior Year's Excess Credits

203 533.00

Exhibit "N" Line 28A

Exhibit "N" Line 28C

Creditable Tax Withheld for the Year

3 643 050.00

and 28D

Total Tax Credits

3 846 583.00

Less: Tax Due

756 740.00

Exhibit "N" Line 26C

Excess Tax Credits as of December 31, 2007 3,089,843.00 AITR For theTaxable Year 2008

Exhibit "0 "

Prior Year's Excess Credits

3 089 843.00

Exhibit "0" Line 30A

Less: Tax Due

827 408.00

Exhibit "0 " Line 29

Balance of Prior Year's Excess Tax

Credits

2,262,435.00

Add: Creditable Taxes Withheld During the

Year

3 683 100.00 Total Excess Tax Credits as of December 31 , 2008 5 945 535.00 The prior year's (2007) excess credits in the amount of P2,262,434.60 was applied against petitioner's income tax due for the year 2009 in the amount of P995,903.10/9 leaving the amount of P1,266,531.50 prior year's excess credits and creditable taxes withheld during the year 2009 in the amount of P4,045,410.00, 20 totaling P5,311,941.5021 unutilized as of December 31, 2009.{ 18 Exhibits "TT", and "TT- l " to "TT-23". 19 Exhibit " B", line 27.

20 Exhibit "B", lines 28C and 28D. 21 Exhibit "B", line 31.

Sonoma Services Inc. v. CIR

Since petitioner marked the option "To be refunded" in its Annual ITR22 for the year 2009 and reflected only the amount of P1,266,531.50 as "Prior Year's Excess Credits" in its first23, second 24 and third 25 Quarterly Income Tax Returns and Annual ITR26 for the taxable year 2010, the unutilized creditable withholding taxes for the taxable year 2009 in the amount of P4,045,410.00 may be the subject of a claim for refund under Section 76 of the NIRC of 1997, as amended. In claiming for the refund of excess creditable withholding tax, the Supreme Court in the case of United International Pictures AB vs.

Commissioner of Internal

Revenue27 stated that the taxpayer must comply with the following requisites:

1. The claim for refund must be filed within two years as prescribed under Section 229 of the NIRC of 1997;

2. The fact of withholding must be established by a copy of a statement (BIR Form 1743.1) duly issued by the payor (withholding agent) to the payee showing the amount paid and the amount of tax withheld therefrom (Section 10, Revenue Regulations No. 6-85); and

3. The income upon which the taxes were withheld must be included in the return of the recipient (Section 10, Revenue Regulations No. 6-85). A taxpayer has two years from the date of payment of the tax within which to claim a tax refund.

Sections 204(C)

and 229 of the NIRC of 1997 provide:, 22 Exhibit "B-3".

23 Exhibit "F-1".

24 Exhibit "G-1".

25 Exhibit "H-1".

26 Exhibit "F", line 30A.

27 G.R. No. 168331, October 11, 2012.

Sonoma Services Inc. v. CIR

"SEC.

204. Authority of the Commissioner to Compromise, Abate and Refund or Credit Taxes. - The Commissioner may -

XXX

XXX

XXX

(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, That a return filed showing an overpayment shall be considered as a written claim for credit or refund."

"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, or of any sum alleged to have been excessively or in any manner wrongfully collected, until a claim for refund or credit has been duly filed with the Commissioner; but such suit or proceeding may be maintained, whether or not such tax, penalty, or sum has been paid under protest or duress. In any case, no such suit or proceeding shall be filed after the expiration of two (2) years from the date of payment of the tax or penalty regardless of any supervening cause that may arise after payment:

Provided, however, That the Commissioner may, even without 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."

Moreover, the reckoning date of the two-year prescriptive period for instituting a suit or proceeding for refund of excess and unutilized CWT is the date of filing ofc Sonoma Services Inc. v. CIR the Final Adjustment Return. 28 In the instant case, petitioner filed its Annual ITR on April 15, 2010. 29

Counting

two years from that date, petitioner had until April 14, 2012 to file its administrative claim as well as the Petition for

Review

before this Court.

Considering

that the administrative and the judicial claims for refund were filed on June 24, 201030 and April 11, 2012 respectively, the refund claims were filed within the reglementary period.

Petitioner

likewise complied with the second requirement. It presented the Certificates of Creditable Tax Withheld at Source31 duly issued to it by various withholding agents for the year 2009, reflecting creditable withholding taxes in the total amount of P4,045,410.00, detailed as follows:

Creditable

Withholding

Withholding Agent

Period Covered

Revenues

Tax

Exhibit

01/01/2009 to Corullon Holdings Inc.

03/31/2009 1 540 000.00 231 000.00

"P-1"

01/01/2009 to Eliia Holdings Inc.

03/31/2009 1 540 000.00 231 000.00

"P-2"

01/01/2009 to FBC Holdings Inc.

03/31/2009 1 540 000.00 231 000.00

"P-3"

01/01/2009 to Fercat Holdings Inc.

03/31/2009 1 540 000.00 231 000.00

"P-4"

01/01/2009 to Gilmon Holdings Inc.

03/31/2009 1 540 000.00 231 000.00

"P-5"

01/01/2009 to Mermac Inc.

03/31/2009 1 706 100.00 255 915.00

"P-6"

01/01/2009 to Reinosa Holdings Inc.

03/31/2009 1 540 000.00 231 000.00

"P-7"

San Puente Holdings, 01/01/2009 to Inc.

03/31/2009 1 540 000.00 231 000.00

"P-8"

03/01/2009 to

Steps Dance Studio

03/31/2009 150 000.00 15 000.00

"P-9"

01/01/2009 to

Padilla Alejandro Zobel

03/31/2009 800 000.00 120 000.00

"P-10"

06/01/2009 to

Steps Dance Studio

06/30/2009 150 000.00 15 000.00

"P-11"

07/01/2009 to Corullon Holdings Inc.

09/30/2009 1 540 000.00 231 000.00

"P-12"

07/01/2009 to Eliia Holdings Inc.

09/30/2009 1 540 000.00 231 000.00

"P-13"

07/01/2009 to FBC Holdings Inc.

09/30/2009 1 540 000.00 231 000.00

"P-14"

Fercat Holdings Inc.

07/01/2009 to 1 540 000.00

"P-15"

28 Commissioner of Internal Revenue vs. The Philippine American Life Insurance Co., et. at., G.R. No. 105208, May 29, 1995. 29 Exhibit "B".

30 Exhibit "A".

31 Exhibits "P-1" to "P-22".

Sonoma Services Inc. v. CIR

09/30/2009 07/01/2009 to Gilmon Holdings Inc.

09/30/2009 07/01/2009 to Mermac Inc.

09/30/2009 07/01/2009 to Reinosa Holdings Inc.

09/30/2009 San Puente Holdings, 07/01/2009 to Inc.

09/30/2009 07/01/2009 to

Padilla Alejandro Zobel

09/30/2009 09/01/2009 to

Steps Dance Studio

09/30/2009 12/01/2009 to

Steps Dance Studio

12/31/2009

TOTAL

Page 21 of 24

231,000.00 1 540 000.00 231 000.00

"P-16"

1 706 100.00 255 915.00

"P-17"

1 540 000.00 231 000.00

"P-18"

1 540 000.00 231 000.00

"P-19"

797 200.00 119 580.00

"P-20"

150 000.00 15 000.00

"P-21"

150 000.00 15 000.00

"P-22"

27,169,400.00 4,045,410.00 Anent the third requisite, the certificates show that the creditable taxes in the amount of P4,045,410.00 were withheld on income payments received by petitioner for the year 2009 amounting to P27,169,400.00.

However, petitioner's 2009 Annual ITR reflected a gross income of P44,641,000.0032 that is higher by P17,471,600.00 when compared with the income payments per certificates of P27,169,400.00.

As found by the Court-commissioned Independent

Certified

Public Accountant (CPA), the discrepancy of P17,471,600.00 was due to the following:

Clients

whose remittances were not subjected to withholdinq taxes p 18 230 600.0033 Recovery on cost (759 000.00)

Total

P17,471,600.00 The amount of P18,230,600.00 pertained to administration fees received by petitioner from clients who were individuals and whose remittances were not subjected to withholding taxes.

The various official receipts issued by petitioner to these individuals showed that no tax was withheld on the income payments of P18,230,600.00, to wit:~ 32 Exhibit "B", line 15C.

33 Exhibit "AA'', p. 8.

Sonoma Services Inc. v. CIR

Client

Alfonso Zobel de Ayala Jr.

Alfonso Zobel de Ayala Jr.

Sofia Zobel Elizalde

Sofia Zobel Elizalde

Jaime Zobel de Ayala

Jaime Zobel de Ayala

Patricia Zobel de Ayala

Patricia Zobel de Ayala

Fernando Zobel de Ayala

Fernando Zobel de Ayala

Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala

II

Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala

II

Monica Zobel de Ayala

Monica Zobel de Ayala

Georgina Padilla Maccrohon

Georgina Padilla Maccrohon

Cristina Zobel de Ayala

Cristina Zobel de Ayala

Beatriz Zobel de Ayala

Beatriz Zobel de Ayala

TOTAL

OR No.

602 617 595 620 599 625 597 621 600 618 600 618 598 623 601 615 596 622 593 619

Page 22 of 24

Remittance

Exhibit

Amount

CC- 12-B

500 000.00

CC-20-A

511 500.00

CC-8-B

700 000.00

CC-21 -B

700 000.00

CC-10-B

1 100 000.00

CC-24-A

2 137 900.00

CC-9-B

600,000.00

CC-22-A

600,000.00

CC-7-A

1,000 000.00

CC-23-B

800,000.00

CC-11

1,100 000.00

CC-20-B

1,600,000.00

CC-10-A

400,000.00

CC-23-A

700,000.00

CC-12-A

1,100,000.00

CC- 19-A

981 200.00

CC-9-A

450 000.00

CC-22-B

650,000.00

CC-7-B

1,000,000.00

CC-21-A

1,600,000.00 181230,600.00 As to the recovery cost of P759,000.00, the Independent CPA noted that:

"Recovery on Cost pertained to rental and miscellaneous expenses shared by the Petitioner's managed companies in accordance with their Cost Recovery Agreements (to be presented to the Court asc Sonoma Services Inc. v. CIR Exhibits EE-1 to EE-3). Subsequent collections of Recovery on Cost as supported by official receipts 581, 582, 583, 610, 612 and 614 (to be presented to the Court as Exhibits CC-1-B, CC-2-A, CC-2-B, CC- 16-B, CC-17-B and CC-18-B) totaling P759,000 were directly credited to the Recovery on Costs ledger account (to be presented to the Court as Exhibit BB- 2).

XXX

XXX

XXX

Recovery on Costs was reflected in the audited financial statements for

CY

2009 (previously presented to the Court as Exhibit B-4) and annual income tax return for CY 2009 (previously presented to the Court as Exhibit B) as a reduction to Rental and Miscellaneous Expenses. xxx" The clear explanation of the Independent CPA and petitioner's supporting documents prove that the income related to the creditable withholding tax of P4,045,410.00 was reported in its income tax return.

WHEREFORE, premises considered, the instant Petition for Review is hereby GRANTED. Accordingly, respondent is hereby ORDERED TO REFUND or TO ISSUE A TAX CREDIT CERTIFICATE in favor of petitioner in the amount of P4,045,410.00, representing petitioner's excess and unutilized creditable withholding taxes for the calendar year 2009.

Presiding Justice

~ N, M~""G~ CIELITO N. MINDARO-GRULLA

Associate Justice

ERL~ P.UV Assoc1ate Justice Sonoma Services Inc. v. CIR

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

Chairperson, 1st Division