Embassy of Switzerland

October 20, 2023 DA ITAD BIR RULING NO. 041-23 Principle of Reciprocity; BIR Ruling No. ITAD-321-11 Embassy of Switzerland 24th Floor, BDO Equitable Tower 8751 Paseo de Roxas 1226 Makati City Attention: Ren Banziger Counsellor and Consul Gentlemen : This refers to your Note No. 106/2023 dated October 3, 2023 referred to this Office by the Department of Finance and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), requesting for the exemption from the payment of value-added (VAT) and ad valorem taxes imposed on the local purchase of motor vehicle for the personal use of H.E. Nicolas Brhl, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Embassy of Switzerland, specifically described as follows: HTcADC MAKE YEAR COLOR FRAME NUMBER ENGINE NUMBER Honda CR-V 1.6 S Diesel 9AT Honda Sensing 2023 Cosmic Blue Metallic MRHRW7870PP020482 N16A56100650 In reply, please be informed that Article 34 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations states that the tax exemption privilege of an Embassy and its diplomatic agents does not include exemption from VAT and ad valorem tax, which are indirect taxes, on their local purchase of goods and services, thus: " ARTICLE 34 A diplomatic agent shall be exempt from all dues and taxes, personal or real, national, regional or municipal, except: (a) indirect taxes of a kind which are normally incorporated in the price of the goods and services; xxx xxx xxx" In other words, purchases by the Embassy or its agents of goods and/or services shall, in general, be subject to the VAT and ad valorem tax under Sections 106 and 149 of the National Internal Revenue Code (NIRC) of 1997, as amended, respectively. CAIHTE However, applying the principle of reciprocity, this Office hereby confirms the VAT and ad valorem tax exemption of the Embassy of Switzerland and/or its personnel on their local purchase of motor vehicles since it appears from the DFA VAT Matrix dated April 5, 2023 that the Government of Switzerland allows similar exemption to the Philippine Embassy and/or its personnel on their purchase of motor vehicles in Switzerland. In view thereof, the local sale of one (1) unit of 2023 Honda CR-V 1.6 S Diesel 9AT Honda Sensing for the personal use of H.E. Nicolas Brhl, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Embassy of Switzerland, being an exempt entity, shall be subject to VAT at zero-percent (0%) rate pursuant to Section 106 (A) (2) (b) of the NIRC of 1997, as amended. Such sale is likewise exempt from ad valorem tax pursuant to Section 9 of Revenue Regulations No. 25-2003. This ruling is issued on the basis of the facts as represented. However, if it will be disclosed upon investigation that the actual facts are different, then this ruling shall be without force and effect insofar as the herein parties are concerned. Very truly yours, Commissioner of Internal Revenue By: (SGD.) LARRY M. BARCELO Assistant Commissioner Legal Service