BIR Ruling No. 060-10

September 15, 2010 BIR RULING NO. 060-10 Section 30 of the Tax Code of 1997; BIR Ruling No. 015-95; BIR Ruling No. DA-252-99; BIR Ruling No. [NSNP-(S30G-016) 125-09] Rotary Club of Holy Spirit, Inc. 33 Don Carlos St.,Don Antonio Heights Quezon City Attention: Emelinda C. Palattao President Gentlemen : This refers to your letter dated September 15, 2009, indorsed to this Office by RDO No. 28, requesting for a certificate of tax exemption pursuant to Sec. 4 (3), Article XIV of the 1987 Constitution. It is represented that Rotary Club of Holy Spirit, Inc. with Taxpayer's Identification No. 007-347-147, is a non-stock, non-profit corporation; that it is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) under Registration No. CN200912370 dated August 12, 2009; and that the purposes for which it was incorporated are the following: 1.) To provide voluntary service that will promote integral human development of people in the community not only in Barangay Holy Spirit and also to nearby barangays and communities outside of Metro Manila, specially those who are under-privileged members of the community in and around Barangay Holy Spirit in Quezon City, out-of-school youth and aspiring small business entrepreneurs, in order to alleviate their cause through training, education, coaching, value formation and similar programs; 2.) To provide opportunities for people in the indigent side of the suburban areas that need to improve the quality of their lives through efficient management of resources and by facilitating access to productive endeavor, healthcare and social welfare services; HCDAac 3.) To conduct, promote or sponsor livelihood training activities, non-formal education, projects, scholarship assistance and other such programs not only in Barangay Holy Spirit also to nearby barangays and in remote rural areas; 4.) To provide and accept grants, contributions, donations and other forms of assistance, which may be financial, technical or in kind, for the attainment of social, economic and cultural objectives such as those enumerated above. In reply, please be informed that this Office cannot as yet issue the requested ruling/certificate of tax exemption because Rotary Club of Holy Spirit, Inc. has to prove by actual operation for at least three (3) years that it is really an organization exempt from income tax under Section 30 of the Tax Code of 1997, as amended. It can file the necessary annual information return instead of an income tax return on or before the 15th day of the fourth month following the end of its taxable year as required under Section 24 of Revenue Regulations No. 2-40 dated February 10, 1940 (Collector vs. Sinco, G.R. L-9276 dated October 23, 1956) .Based on such information return, we shall conduct the necessary investigation on the activities undertaken during the period. The letter of exemption shall thereafter be issued depending upon the result of our investigation. (BIR Ruling No. DA-252-99 dated April 23, 1999) However, it is subject to the corresponding internal revenue taxes imposed under the National Internal Revenue Code on its income derived from any of its properties, real or personal, or any activity conducted for profit regardless of the disposition thereof, which income should be returned for taxation. (BIR Ruling No. 015-95 dated February 9, 1995) Likewise, interest income from currency bank deposits and yield or any other monetary benefits from deposit substitute instruments and from trust funds and similar arrangements, and royalties derived from sources within the Philippines are subject to the 20% final withholding tax: provided, however, that interest income derived by it from a depository bank under the expanded foreign currency deposit system shall be subject to 7-1/2% final withholding tax pursuant to Section 27 (D) (1), in relation to Section 57 (A), both of the Tax Code of 1997. Moreover, it is required to file on or before the 15th day of the fourth month following the end of the accounting period a Profit and Loss Statement and Balance Sheet with the Annual Information Return under oath, stating its gross income and expenses incurred during the preceding period and a certificate showing that there has not been any change in its By-laws, Articles of Incorporation, manner of operation and activities as well as sources and disposition of income. (BIR Ruling No. [NSNP-(S30G-016) 125-09] dated February 24, 2009) It should be understood that the said organization shall be constituted as withholding agent of the government if it acts as an employer and its employee receives compensation income subject to the withholding tax under Section 79 (A), Chapter XIII, Title II of the Tax Code of 1997, as implemented by Revenue Regulations No. 2-98, as amended, or if it makes income payments to individuals or corporations subject to the expanded withholding tax provided for in Section 57 (B) of the Tax Code of 1997, also as implemented by Revenue Regulations No. 2-98, as amended. (BIR Ruling No. DA-252-99 dated April 23, 1999). Under Section 235 of the Tax Code of 1997, any provision of existing general and special law to the contrary notwithstanding, the books of accounts and other pertinent records of tax-exempt organizations or grantees of tax incentives shall be subject to examination by the BIR for purposes of ascertaining compliance with the conditions under which it has been granted tax exemptions or tax incentives, and its tax liabilities, if any. aACEID It is subject to the payment of the annual registration fee of PhP500.00 as prescribed in Section 236 (B) of the Tax Code of 1997, as amended. It is also required under Section 6 (C) in relation to Section 237 of the same Code to issue duly registered receipts or sales or commercial invoices for each sale or transfer of merchandise or for services rendered which are not directly related to the activities for which the Association is registered [Revenue Memorandum Circular (RMC) No. 76-2003]. Finally, for purposes of securing a permanent exemption after the three (3)-year period, Rotary Club of Holy Spirit, Inc. is required to submit the following documents pursuant to Revenue Memorandum Circular No. 14-2001: 1) Certified true copy of the Certificate of Registration with the SEC; 2) Certified true copy of the Articles of Incorporation which includes the following provisions: a. That the corporation is non-stock, non-profit; b. That the primary purpose for which it was created is one of those enumerated under Sec. 30 of the Tax Code of 1997, as amended; c. That no part of the net income shall inure to the benefit of any its members; d. That the trustees do not receive any compensation; and e. In case of dissolution, assets of the corporation shall be transferred to similar institution or to the government. 3) Certified true copy of the By-Laws; 4) Certified true copy of the Annual Information Returns and Financial Statements for the last three (3) years of operation; 5) Certification under oath that there has not been any change in the By-Laws, Articles of Incorporation, manner of activities as well as the sources and disposition of income; IASEca 6) BIR Certificate of Registration. This ruling is being issued on the basis of the foregoing facts as represented. However, if upon investigation, it will be ascertained that the facts are different, then this ruling shall be considered null and void. Very truly yours, (SGD.) KIM S. JACINTO-HENARES Commissioner of Internal Revenue