ITAD BIR Ruling No. 040-15

March 23, 2015 ITAD BIR RULING NO. 040-15 Article 10 (2) (a), Philippines-Japan tax treaty, as amended HKT Philippines, Inc. Carmelray Industrial Park II Punta, Calamba City, Laguna Attention: Anthony D. Torres President Gentlemen: This refers to your tax treaty relief application filed on August 23, 2011, requesting confirmation that the dividend payments of HKT Philippines, Inc. ("HKT-Phil") to HKT Corporation ("HKT-Japan") are subject to 10 percent preferential withholding tax rate pursuant of the Article 10 (2) (a) of the amended Convention between the Republic of the Philippines and Japan for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income ("Philippines-Japan tax treaty, as amended") . It is represented that HKT-Japan, with address at 1457-1 Narahara-Cho, Hachioji-City, Tokyo, Japan, is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of Japan, and is a resident of Japan within the meaning of the Philippines-Japan tax treaty per the Certificate of Status of Taxable Person issued by the District Director of Hachioji Tax Office dated June 16, 2011; that it is not registered either as a corporation or as a partnership in the Philippines per certification issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission dated December 10, 2010; and that, on the other hand, HKT-Phil is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the Philippines, with principal address at Carmelray Industrial Park II, Barangay Punta, Calamba City, Laguna. It is further represented that at the meeting of the Board of Directors and Shareholders of HKT-Phil which was held on August 27, 2010, a resolution was passed and approved declaring cash dividends in the amount of Php20,182,108.75 by at least majority of the directors and stockholders representing at least 2/3 of the outstanding capital stock; that out of the foregoing amount, Php12,107,939.66 will be paid to HKT-Phil on August 24, 2011; that per the August 30, 2011 Corporate Secretary's Certificate issued by HKT-Phil, as of August 27, 2010 until the date of payment of the said dividends which is on August 24, 2011, HKT-Japan has 36,536 shares with total par value of 36,536,000.00 representing 59.99% percentage ownership in HKT-Phil. It is finally represented, per Certification dated August 19, 2011 issued by HKT-Phil, that the issue or transaction subject of this request for ruling is not under investigation, on-going audit, administrative protest, claims for refund or issuance of a tax credit certificate, collection proceedings, or judicial appeal. In reply, please be informed that Section 28 (B) (1) of the National Internal Revenue Code (Tax Code) of 1997, as amended, applies, in general, to dividends derived in the Philippines by a nonresident foreign corporation. It provides: "Section 28. Rates of Income Tax on Foreign Corporations. xxx xxx xxx (B) Tax on Nonresident Foreign Corporation . DHacTC (1) In General. Except as otherwise provided in this Code, a foreign corporation not engaged in trade or business in the Philippines shall pay a tax equal to thirty-five percent (35%) of the gross income received during each taxable year from all sources within the Philippines, such as interest, dividends, rents, royalties, salaries, premiums (except reinsurance premiums), annuities, emoluments, or other fixed or determinable annual, periodic or casual gains, profits and income, and capital gains, except capital gains subject to tax under subparagraph 5(c): Provided, That effective January 1, 2009, the rate of income tax shall be thirty percent (30%)." However, Section 32 (B) (5) of the Tax Code of 1997, as amended, provides: "Section 32. Gross Income. xxx xxx xxx (B) Exclusions from Gross Income . The following items shall not be included in gross income and shall be exempt from taxation under this Title: xxx xxx xxx (5) Income Exempt under Treaty . Income of any kind, to the extent required by any treaty obligation binding upon the Government of the Philippines. xxx xxx xxx" Thus, Article 10 of the Philippines-Japan tax treaty, as amended, which you invoke, may apply to the instant case. It provides: "Article 10 1. Dividends paid by a company which is a resident of a Contracting State to a resident of the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other Contracting State. 2. However, such dividends may also be taxed in the Contracting State of which the company paying the dividends is a resident, and according to the laws of that Contracting State, but if the recipient is the beneficial owner of the dividends the tax so charged shall not exceed: a) 10 per cent of the gross amount of the dividends if the beneficial owner is a company which holds directly at least 10 percent either of the voting shares of the company paying the dividends or of the total shares issued by that company during the period of six months immediately preceding the date of payment of the dividends; b) 15 per cent of the gross amount of the dividends in all other cases. xxx xxx xxx 3. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 2, the amount of tax imposed by the Philippines on the dividends paid by a company, being a resident of the Philippines, registered with the Board of Investments and engaged in preferred pioneer areas of investment under the investment incentives laws of the Philippines to a resident of Japan, who is the beneficial owner of the dividends, shall not exceed 10 per cent of the gross amount of the dividends. 4. The term 'dividends' as used in this Article means income from shares or other rights, not being debt-claims, participating in profits, as well as income from other corporate rights assimilated to income from shares by the taxation laws of the Contracting State of which the company making the distribution is a resident. 5. The provisions of paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 shall not apply if the beneficial owner of the dividends, being a resident of a Contracting State, carries on business in the other Contracting State of which the company paying the dividends is a resident, through a permanent establishment situated therein, or performs in that other Contracting State independent personal services from a fixed base situated therein, and the holding in respect of which the dividends are paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment or fixed base. In such case the provisions of Article 7 or Article 14, as the case may be, shall apply. . . ." Based on the aforequoted provisions, dividends arising in the Philippines and paid to a resident of Japan may be taxed in the Philippines at a rate not to exceed (a) 10 percent of the gross amount of the dividends if (i) the beneficial owner is a company which holds directly at least 10 percent of the voting shares of the company paying the dividends or of the total shares issued by that company during the period of six months immediately preceding the date of payment of the dividends, or (ii) the dividends are paid by a company, being a resident of the Philippines, which is registered with the Board of Investments and engaged in preferred pioneer areas of investment under the investment incentives laws of the Philippines; and (b) 15 percent of the gross amount of the dividends, in all other cases. DcTaEH In view thereof, considering that HKT-Japan, a resident corporation in Japan with no fixed place of business in the Philippines, holds more than 10 percent or 59.99% of the total issued shares in HKT-Phil, and that HKT-Japan maintains these shareholdings six months immediately preceding the date of payment of the dividends or since April 21, 2008, such dividends paid by HKT-Phil to HKT-Japan are subject to the preferential tax rate of 10 percent of the gross amount thereof, pursuant to paragraph 2 (a), Article 10 of the Philippines-Japan tax treaty, as amended. This ruling is issued on the basis of the foregoing facts as represented. However, if upon investigation it shall be disclosed 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, (SGD.) KIM S. JACINTO-HENARES Commissioner of Internal Revenue