National Housing Authority

June 21, 2010 BIR RULING [SH-(011) 049-10] RA 7279; BIR Ruling No. 071-98; BIR Ruling No. DA-130-05; BIR Ruling No. [SH-(006) 076-09]; BIR Ruling No. [SH-(111) 715-09]; BIR Ruling No. [SH-(041)-317-09] National Housing Authority Regional Office 9 3rd Flr. Unit 5 Nationwide Appliance Center Bldg. Veterans Avenue, Zamboanga City Attention: Doris A. Siao Officer-in-Charge Gentlemen : This refers to your letter dated September 12, 2007 requesting for an exemption from payment of capital gains tax and documentary stamp tax on the sale of lots by the National Housing Authority (NHA) in favor of individual project beneficiaries pursuant to Republic Act 7279 otherwise known as the "Urban Development and Housing Act of 1992". Documents submitted disclosed that the NHA, with Taxpayer Identification No. 000-916-384-000 is the registered owner of the parcels of land located at Sitio of Catumbal, Barangay of Cabaluay, City of Zamboanga covered by Transfer Certificate of Title (TCT) Nos. 170890; 170,900; 170,919 and 183,065; and that the lots under the aforementioned TCTs were sold by NHA to the following individuals: 1. Delia Grace N. Lao TIN-120-030-074 2. Jessie M. Gentelizo TIN-127-281-130 3. Ramon E. Duco TIN-947-367-556 4. Cirilo E. Estrada TIN-945-244-447 In support of its request, NHA has completely submitted on September 12, 2007 the following documents: 1) Written Application for Exemption filed with the Law Division; 2) Copy of the Transfer Certificate of Title (TCT); ETISAc 3) Copy of Tax Declaration of the property; 4) Copy of the Deed of Sale, and 5) TIN of Buyer and Seller. In reply, please be informed that Section 19 of Republic Act (RA) No. 7279, otherwise known as the Urban Development and Housing Act of 1992 provides as follows: "Sec. 19. Incentives for the National Housing Authority. The National Housing Authority, being the primary government agency in charge of providing housing for the underprivileged and homeless, shall be exempted from the payment of all fees and charges of any kind, whether local or national, such as income and realty taxes. All documents or contracts executed by and in favor of the National Housing Authority shall also be exempt from the payment of documentary stamp tax and registration fees, including fees required for the issuance of transfer certificates of title." Under the foregoing provisions, NHA enjoys exemption from all forms of taxation. Thus, at the time of the sale of the above-stated property, NHA was not liable to pay any kind of taxes, fees and charges. Section 19 of RA 7279, gives incentives to the NHA, as the entity tasked by the National Government to carry out the purposes of RA 7279, in the form of exemptions from the payment of all national taxes, such as income tax and the corresponding creditable withholding tax or the capital gains tax, including exemptions from documentary stamp taxes upon documents or contracts executed by and in favor of the NHA. (BIR Ruling No. 071-98 dated May 25, 1998 and BIR Ruling No. [SH-(006) 076-09] dated February 6, 2009). Pertinent portions of RMC No. 42-01 dated October 5, 2001, provide, viz. : "A. National Housing Authority (NHA) The NHA, being the primary government agency in charge of providing housing for the underprivileged and homeless citizens shall be exempted from the payment of the following national internal revenue taxes: xxx xxx xxx (2) Documentary stamp tax on sales transactions executed by and in favor of the NHA in connection with socialized housing projects. Since Section 19 of R.A. 7279 exempts "all documents or contracts executed by and in favor of the NHA", the exemption from documentary stamp tax extends to the other party (either seller or buyer) that is dealing or transacting with the NHA. The exemption from documentary stamp tax of NHA in connection with any of its socialized housing project extends to the other party (either seller or buyer) that deals or transacts with the NHA. Consequently, the transfer by NHA of its real property in favor of Delia Grace N. Lao, Jessie M. Gentelizo, Ramon E. Duco and Cirilo E. Estrada is exempt from the payment of documentary stamp tax under Section 196 of the Tax Code of 1997, as amended. (BIR Ruling No. DA-130-05 dated April 6, 2005) DTAHEC However, please take note that this ruling is never intended and shall not be construed as giving authority to the concerned Register of Deeds to effect transfer of the land titles in the name of the buyer without the necessary certificate of authority to register issued by this Bureau. In this regard, this ruling shall be presented to the Revenue District Office (RDO) concerned in order for the latter to issue the Certificate Authorizing Registration (CAR) without the payment of the documentary stamp tax on the transfer of the subject realty by NHA to Delia Grace N. Lao, Jessie M. Gentelizo, Ramon E. Duco and Cirilo E. Estrada. (BIR Ruling No. [SH-(111)715-09] dated November 16, 2009) The Certificate Authorizing Registration (CAR) shall only be issued after the submission of the requirements provided under RMO15-2003 and after it is established upon proper verification by the Revenue District Officer (RDO) concerned that, considering the rules on valuation of real property, the actual selling price per sale transaction of the lots in this case does not exceed P400,000.00 for each qualified beneficiaries. (BIR Ruling No. [SH-(041)-317-09] dated May 15, 2009) Moreover, upon issuance of this letter of exemption, and upon registration of the document of sale, a lien on the Certificates or Title of the land to be issued in the name of Delia Grace N. Lao, Jessie M. Gentelizo, Ramon E. Duco and Cirilo E. Estrada shall be caused to be annotated by the Register of Deeds having jurisdiction over the properties, to the effect, that the said properties shall be used for socialized housing pursuant to RA 7279. (BIR Ruling No. DA-130-05 dated April 6, 2005) 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 null and void. Very truly yours, Commissioner of Internal Revenue By: (SGD.) MARISSA O. CABREROS OIC, Assistant Commissioner Legal Service