BIR Ruling No. 370-13

October 10, 2013 BIR RULING NO. 370-13 Section 109 (1) (R), 1997 Tax Code; BIR Ruling No. 503-11 Aklat at Dunong Publishing, Inc. 2873 Lamayan St.,Sta. Ana, Manila Attention: Mr. Jesus F. Crisologo President Gentlemen : This refers to your letter dated May 12, 2009 requesting for VAT exemption as publisher of educational textbooks. Documents submitted show that Aklat at Dunong Publishing, Inc. (TIN 007-210-368-000) is a corporation engaged in the publication and printing of books, periodicals, newspapers, photographics, patents, copywrites, review materials, tradebooks, educational magazines and gazettes, yearbooks and other printed materials for commerce and for profit. It is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) under Company Reg. No. CS200900617 dated January 20, 2009. It was issued Certificate of Registration No. 1291 by the National Book Development Board (NBDB) on August 31, 2010 as Book Publisher and that said Certification is valid until April 30, 2013. In reply, please be informed that Section 109 (1) (R) of the 1997 Tax Code, as amended, it is provided that the "sale, importation, printing or publication of books and any newspaper, magazine, review or bulletin, which appears at regular intervals with fixed prices for subscription and sale and which is not devoted principally to the publication of paid advertisements," shall be exempt from the imposition of VAT. The above provision is being implemented by Section 4.109-1 (B) (1) (r) of Revenue Regulations (RR) No. 16-2005 dated September 1, 2005, to wit: "Section 4.109-1. VAT Exempt Transactions. xxx xxx xxx (B) Subject to the provisions of Section 4.109.2 hereof, the following transactions shall be exempt from VAT: ITaCEc xxx xxx xxx (r) Sale, importation, printing or publication of books and any newspaper, magazine, review, or bulletin which appears at regular intervals with fixed prices for subscription and sale and which is not devoted principally to the publication of paid advertisements;" In Revenue Memorandum Circular (RMC) No. 75-2012 dated November 22, 2012, this Office made a clarification on the VAT exemption granted under Section 109 (1) (R) of the 1997 Tax Code, as amended, to wit: 1. A newspaper, magazine, review or bulletin must be: (1) printed or published at regular intervals; (2) available for subscription and sale at fixed prices; and (3) are not principally devoted to the publication of paid advertisements. 2. The terms "book","newspaper","magazine","review" and "bulletin" as used in the provision refer to printed materials in hard copies. They do not include those in digital or electronic format or computerized versions, including but not limited to: e-books, e-journals, electronic copies, online library sources, CDs and software. Based on the foregoing, there are four (4) activities that are exempt from the coverage of VAT, i.e. ,1) sale ;2) importation ;3) printing ;and 4) publication ,of books, newspapers, magazines, reviews and bulletins. Moreover, there are certain requirements that have to be met under the above provisions, to wit: the newspaper, magazine, review or bulletin must be: (1) printed or published at regular intervals; (2) available for subscription and sale at fixed prices; (3) are not principally devoted to the publication of paid advertisements; and (4) printed in hard copies. The concurrence of the aforesaid requirements must be present in order that the sale, importation, printing and publication of books, newspapers, magazines, reviews and bulletins will be exempt from the imposition of VAT. In view thereof, Aklat at Dunong Publishing, Inc.'s business of publication of books, magazines, newspapers, reviews or bulletins, in hard copies, is exempt from the payment of VAT and from the 3% percentage tax under Section 116, in relation to Section 109 (1) (V) of the 1997 Tax Code, provided they appear at regular intervals with fixed prices for subscription and sale and which are not devoted principally to the publication of paid advertisements. (BIR Ruling No. 503-11 dated December 15, 2011) However, if Aklat at Dunong Publishing, Inc. is engaged in other non-exempt activities such as the printing of materials other than books, newspapers, magazines, reviews and bulletins, said transactions are subject to VAT, and the taxpayer shall be required to register its business as VAT business entity and must issue a separate VAT invoice/receipt therefor to record the same. acHDTA Moreover, VAT is an indirect tax payable by the seller and not the purchaser of goods. However, being an indirect tax, it can be shifted or passed on to the buyer/purchaser, transferee or lessee of the goods, properties or services. Once shifted to the buyer/customer as an addition to the cost of goods or services sold, it is no longer a tax but an additional cost which the buyer/customer has to pay in order to obtain the goods or services. Thus, the shifting of the VAT to Aklat at Dunong Publishing, Inc. does not make it the person directly Tax Code of 1997, as amended, to avoid the passing on or shifting of the VAT. Hence, notwithstanding that Aklat at Dunong Publishing, Inc. is a publication company, its purchases of goods, properties or services from its suppliers shall nevertheless be subject to the 12% VAT pursuant to Section 107 of the same Code. 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 as null and void. Very truly yours, (SGD.) KIM S. JACINTO-HENARES Commissioner of Internal Revenue