Title
Commissioner of Internal Revenue vs. Bases Conversion and Development Authority
Case
G.R. No. 217898
Decision Date
Jan 15, 2020
BCDA, exempt from CWT on property sales under RA 7227, secures Php101.6M tax refund as SC affirms CTA ruling, citing special law precedence over NIRC.

Case Digest (G.R. No. 164594)
Expanded Legal Reasoning Model

Facts:

  • Parties and Subject Matter
    • Petitioner: Commissioner of Internal Revenue (CIR).
    • Respondent: Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), owner of four real properties in Bonifacio Global City totaling 12,036 sq. m. (“Expanded Big Delta Lots”).
  • Sale Transaction and Withholding
    • BCDA contracted with the “Net Group” for ₱2,032,749,327.96. The Net Group agreed to withhold ₱101,637,466.40 as Creditable Withholding Tax (CWT) pending BCDA’s tax‐exemption certification.
    • BCDA’s request for certification (May 28, 2008) went unanswered by the BIR. On July 31, 2008, sale was perfected; the Net Group withheld and remitted the CWT to BIR RDO No. 44.
  • Administrative and Judicial Proceedings
    • BCDA sought refund from the BIR (March 9, 2009); no response.
    • BCDA filed petition before the Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) on July 29, 2010, claiming exemption under RA 7227 as amended by RA 7917.
    • CTA First Division Decision (Sept. 13, 2013) granted refund of ₱101,637,466.40; MFR denied (Jan. 30, 2014).
    • CTA En Banc Decision (Dec. 16, 2014) affirmed; MFR denied (Apr. 15, 2015).
    • CIR filed petition for review with the Supreme Court (G.R. No. 217898).

Issues:

  • Substantive Issue
    • Whether BCDA is exempt from CWT on the sale of its Global City properties under its charter (RA 7227 as amended by RA 7917) despite the general provisions of the NIRC.
  • Procedural Issue
    • Whether BCDA complied with documentary and procedural requirements for a tax refund under BIR regulations and the NIRC.

Ruling:

  • (Subscriber-Only)

Ratio:

  • (Subscriber-Only)

Doctrine:

  • (Subscriber-Only)

Analyze Cases Smarter, Faster
Jur helps you analyze cases smarter to comprehend faster—building context before diving into full texts.