Title
Amendments to Income Tax Law, CA No. 117
Law
Commonwealth Act No. 117
Decision Date
Nov 3, 1936
Amendment to Act No. 2833 introduces progressive income tax rates, prevention of tax avoidance, exemptions for individuals and estates, filing requirements, taxation of corporations and foreign companies, and penalties for non-compliance.
A

Anti-Accumulation Tax on Certain Business Entities

  • Repeals former section 3 and imposes a 25% tax on undistributed accumulated profits of corporations, joint-stock companies, partnerships, joint accounts, or associations (except banks and insurance companies).
  • Targets entities created or used to avoid surtax by accumulating profits instead of distribution.
  • The tax is additional to existing income taxes under section ten.

Personal Exemptions for Taxpayers

  • Allows personal exemptions from net income: 2,000 pesos base, plus 2,000 additional for married individuals or those supporting certain dependents.
  • Only one combined deduction of 4,000 pesos for married couples not legally separated.
  • Additional exemptions: 500 pesos for each legitimate, recognized natural, or adopted dependent child under 21 or incapacitated.
  • Guardians/trustees may claim exemptions for wards, but the ward cannot claim more than allowed.
  • Estates and trusts get a 2,000 pesos exemption during administration or if income is not regularly distributed.
  • Non-resident aliens can claim exemptions equivalent to those granted to Philippine residents, subject to filing true income returns.

Income Tax Return Filing Requirements

  • Requires persons of lawful age with gross income of 2,000 pesos or more to file an income tax return by March 1 each year.
  • Returns must detail gross income from all sources and authorized deductions.
  • Married persons file either a consolidated or separate returns to be consolidated for tax purposes.
  • Collector of Internal Revenue may grant extensions for return filing in meritorious cases.
  • Returns may be filed by authorized representatives if taxpayer cannot file due to illness, absence, or nonresidence.

Corporate Income Tax

  • Levies a 6% tax on total net income of corporations, joint-stock companies, partnerships, joint accounts, associations, and insurance companies organized in the Philippines.
  • Also applies a like tax on income within the Philippines received by foreign entities, including interest on Philippine residents’ obligations.
  • Income already taxed under the normal tax is exempt from this corporate tax.
  • Gains or losses from sale or disposition of property are treated according to specified subsections of the original Act.

Penalties for Tax Noncompliance

  • Failure to pay tax, file returns, or supply required information results in a less grave felony, punishable by fines between 40 to 2,000 pesos, or imprisonment up to six months, or both.
  • False or fraudulent returns intending to evade tax incur penalties of fines up to 4,000 pesos, imprisonment up to one year, or both.
  • No penalties or recollection imposed if tax has been properly paid by the taxpayer or withholding agent, unless the failure was fraudulent.

Reporting and Record-Keeping Requirements for Corporations

  • Corporations and similar entities must render detailed, sworn returns on payments of dividends or profits upon request from the Collector of Internal Revenue.
  • Must include names and addresses of stockholders/members, capital or shares owned, source years, and gains or earnings.
  • Penalty for failure to keep accurate records or provide required information is an additional tax of 10% of dividends or profits distributed.
  • Resident foreign corporations deriving majority income from foreign sources are exempt from this additional amount.

Effective Date and Application

  • The amendments take effect upon approval.
  • Applies retroactively to income received from January 1, 1936, onward.

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