St. Francis Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative

February 25, 2009 BIR RULING [COOP-(M-035) 132-09] RA 6938; BIR Ruling No. ECCP-005-2007 St. Francis Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative Barangay San Francisco Sto. Tomas, Batangas Attention: Mr. Emiliano M. Maralit Chairman Gentlemen : This refers to your letter dated May 15, 2008 which was indorsed to this office by the Revenue Region No. 9, San Pablo City requesting for tax exemption under the provisions of Republic Act (R.A.) No. 6938, otherwise known as the "Cooperative Code of the Philippines". As represented, St. Francis Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative is a multi-purpose cooperative with principal office address at Barangay San Francisco, Sto. Tomas, Batangas; that it is registered with Cooperative Development Authority with CDA Registration No. LGA-4943 issued on April 17, 2001. The objectives and purposes for which it was formed are as follows: 1. To encourage thrift and savings mobilization among members; 2. To create funds and grant loans to members for productive purposes. In support of its request, St. Francis Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative have submitted the following documents: 1. Certificate of Registration from the CDA; 2. Certificate of Good Standing from CDA issued on July 16, 2007; 3. Articles of Cooperation and By-laws; 4. Certification as to the list of members and their share contributions; 6. * Certifications under oath by the Chairman to the effect that the Cooperative is dealing with both members and non-members only; and ETDHSa 7. Financial Statements. In reply, please be informed that Article 62 of R.A. No. 6938 provides, viz. : "Art. 62. Tax and other Exemptions. Cooperatives transacting business with both members and non-members shall not be subject to tax on their transactions to members. Not withstanding the provisions of any law or regulations to the contrary, such cooperatives dealing with non-members shall enjoy the following exemption: (1) Cooperatives with accumulated reserves and undivided net savings of not more than ten million pesos (P10,000,000.00) shall be exempt from all national, city, provincial, municipal or barangay taxes of whatever name and nature. Such cooperatives shall be exempt from customs duties, advance sales tax or compensating tax on their importation of machinery, equipment, and spare parts, used by them and which are not available locally as certified by the Department of Trade and Industry. All tax-free importations shall not be transferred to any person until after five (5) years, otherwise, the cooperative and the transferee or assignee shall be solidarily liable to pay the amount of the tax and/or duties thereon." Likewise, Sec. 3 of Revenue Regulations (RR) No. 20-2001 dated November 12, 2001 provides, viz. : "Sec. 3. Exemption from Taxes. Taxability/exemption of duly registered cooperative dealing/transacting business with both members and non-members: 1. For cooperative with accumulated reserves and undivided net savings of not more than Ten Million Pesos (P10,000,000.00) a. Exemption from all national internal revenue taxes for which they are directly liable, as enumerated under Section 3.1 of these Regulations." From the foregoing, a cooperative dealing with both members and non-members is entitled to the exemptions provided therein on conditions that its accumulated reserves and undivided net savings have not reached the threshold of P10 Million. If the accumulated reserves and undivided net savings exceed the threshold of P10 Million, the cooperative shall be exempt from income tax for a period of ten (10) years only counted from the date of registration with the CDA. Provided, further, that at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the net income of the cooperative is returned to the members in the form of interest and/or patronage refund. [Par. 3.2 (II) (a), Section 3 of RR No. 20-2001]. Considering that St. Francis Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative has complied with the conditions sine qua non provided under RR No. 20-2001 dated November 12, 2001, which is the Regulations Implementing Articles 61 and 62 of R.A. No. 6938, and that its accumulated reserves and undivided net savings do not exceed the threshold of P10 Million, this Office hereby grants this Certificate of Tax Exemption to St. Francis Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative from payment of the following, to wit: IcEACH 1. Income tax on income from operations; 2. Value-added tax (VAT) under Section 109 (M) of the Tax Code of 1997, as amended; 3. Percentage tax under Section 116 of the Tax Code of 1997; 4. Donor's tax on donations to duly accredited charitable, research and educational institutions, and reinvestment to socio-economic projects within the area of operation of the cooperative (Sec. 62 (2) (d), RA 6938); 5. Documentary stamps tax imposed under Title VII of the Tax Code of 1997, provided, however, that the other party to the taxable document/transaction who is not exempt shall be the one directly liable for the tax (Sec. 173, Tax Code of 1997, as amended); and 6. Annual registration fee of P500.00 under Section 236 (B) of the Tax Code of 1997. It has to be emphasized, however, that the above-cited tax exemption privileges granted to a cooperative do not extend to its individual members. Thus, members of cooperatives are liable to pay all the necessary internal revenue taxes under the National Internal Revenue Code, including the tax on earnings derived from their capital contribution. The proper taxes shall be paid or withheld in the following cases: 1. In case the cooperative will distribute interest on capital, such interest shall be taxable to the recipient member and shall be declared in his individual income tax return for tax purposes. [Sec. 4 (B) (u) of RR No. 6-97]. 2. Its interest income from Philippine currency bank deposits, yield from deposit substitutes, trust funds and similar arrangements, and royalties derived from sources within the Philippines shall be subject to 20% final tax imposed under Section 27 (D) (1) of the Tax Code of 1997. It shall also be taxed on prizes, winnings and net gains realized on sales or exchange of property. AIECSD 3. The cooperative shall be constituted as withholding agent if it acts as an employer and its employees receive compensation income subject to withholding tax provided for in Section 79 of the Tax Code, or if it makes income payments to individuals or corporations subject to Expanded Withholding Tax provided for in Section 57 (B) of the Tax Code, and as implemented by RR No. 2-98, as amended. Although, St. Francis Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative is exempt from payment of annual registration fee, it is not exempt from the requirement of registration. Further, it is requested to file on or before April 15 of each year, a Profit and Loss Statement and Balance Sheet with Annual Information Return under oath, stating the cooperative's gross income and expenses incurred during the year, and a Certificate showing that there has not been any change in the By-laws and Articles of Cooperation, in its manner of activities, as well as resources and disposition of income. A copy of this Letter of Exemption must be attached to the Annual Information Return which it will file on said date. Finally, St. Francis Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative books of accounts and other pertinent records shall be subject to periodical examination by Revenue Enforcement Officers of this Bureau for purposes of ascertaining whether it has been complying with the conditions under which it has been granted tax exemption or tax incentives and its tax liability, if any, pursuant to Section 235 of the Tax Code of 1997, as amended. This ruling is being issued on the basis of the foregoing facts as represented. However, if upon investigation, it will be disclosed that the facts are different, then this ruling shall be considered as null and void. Very truly yours, Commissioner of Internal Revenue By: (SGD.) JAMES H. ROLDAN Assistant Commissioner Legal Service