ITAD BIR Ruling No. 238-14

October 9, 2014 ITAD BIR RULING NO. 238-14 Article 10, Philippines-Netherlands tax treaty Manabat Sanagustin & Co. The KPMG Center, 9th Floor 6787 Ayala Avenue, Makati City Attention: Atty. Maria Carmela M. Peralta Gentlemen : This refers to your application for tax treaty relief filed on September 19, 2013 requesting confirmation that the dividends to be paid by Unilever Philippines, Inc. ("Unilever PH") to New Asia BV ("NA BV") are subject to the preferential rate of 10 percent pursuant to the Convention between the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Republic of the Philippines for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income ("Philippines-Netherlands tax treaty"). It is represented that NA BV is a foreign corporation organized and existing under the laws of Netherlands with its principal office address at Weena 455 3013 AL Rotterdam based on its Declaration of Residence issued by the tax authority of Netherlands on September 25, 2012; that NA BV has an authorized capital of EUR100,000 and is divided into 100,000 shares with a par value of EUR1 each based on the Articles of Association of NA BV; that NA BV is not registered as a corporation or as a partnership based on the Certification issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 9, 2013; and that on the other hand, Unilever PH is a domestic corporation situated at 1351 United Nations Avenue, Manila. It is further represented that on September 18, 2013, Unilever PH, through its Board of Directors, declared cash dividends of PhP1,153,449,559.49 to its stockholders of record as of June 30, 2013 according to their respective holdings; that NA BV holds 4,918,513 shares in Unilever PH or 99.99% ownership in Unilever PH, based on the Certificate issued by the Corporate Secretary of Unilever PH on September 18, 2013; that on September 23, 2013, Unilever PH paid NA BV, through Unilever Finance International B.V. , based on the Certification issued by HSBC on September 27, 2013. EHACcT In reply, please be informed that Section 28 (B) (1) of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997 ( "Tax Code" ), as amended, provides that dividends paid to a non-resident foreign corporation not engaged in trade or business in the Philippines, are subject to income tax at the rate 30 percent, thus: "Section 28. Rates of Income Tax on Foreign Corporations. xxx xxx xxx (B) Tax on Nonresident Foreign Corporation. (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 . . ., dividends, . . .: Provided, That effective January 1, 2009, the rate of income tax shall be thirty percent (30%). xxx xxx xxx" However, Section 32 (B) (5) of the Tax Code provides that such dividends may be exempt from income tax or subject to a reduced rate to the extent required by any treaty obligation on the Philippines, thus: "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. IHaSED xxx xxx xxx" In this particular case, you invoke the Philippines-Netherlands tax treaty, as amended. Paragraphs 1, 2 and 3, Article 10 thereof provide: "Article 10 DIVIDENDS 1. Dividends paid by a company which is a resident of one of the States to a resident of the other State may be taxed in that other State. 2. However, such dividends may also be taxed in the State of which the company paying the dividends is a resident and according to the laws of that 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 recipient is a company the capital of which is wholly or partly divided into shares and which holds directly at least 10 per cent of the capital of the company paying the dividends; b) 15 per cent of the gross amount of the dividends in all other cases. 3. The competent authorities of the States shall by mutual agreement settle the mode of application of paragraph 2. 4. The provisions of paragraph 2 shall not affect the taxation of the company in respect of the profits out of which the dividends are paid. 5. The term "dividends" as used in this Article means income from shares, "jouissance" shares or "jouissance" rights, mining shares, founders' shares or other rights participating in profits, as well as income from debt-claims participating in profits and income from other corporate rights which is subjected to the same taxation treatment as income from shares by the taxation law of the State of which the company making the distribution is a resident. TAHIED xxx xxx xxx" (underscoring supplied) Under paragraphs 2 and 3 of Article 10, dividends arising in the Philippines and paid to a resident of the Netherlands may be taxed in the Philippines at a rate not to exceed (a) 10 percent if the recipient is a company the capital of which is wholly or partly divided into shares and which holds directly at least 10 percent of the capital of the company paying the dividends; and (b) 15 percent in all other cases. Accordingly, since NA BV is a company the capital of which is divided into shares and which holds 99.99 percent of the capital of Unilever PH, such dividends paid by Unilever PH to NA BV are subject to income tax at the rate of 10 percent of the gross amount thereof, pursuant to paragraph 2 (a), Article 10 of the Philippines-Netherlands tax treaty. This ruling is issued on the basis of the 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 Bureau of Internal Revenue