ITAD BIR Ruling No. 273-15

September 11, 2015 ITAD BIR RULING NO. 273-15 Article 10 (2) (b), Philippines-Japan tax treaty, as amended SGV & Co. 6760 Ayala Avenue 1226 Makati City Attention: Carolina A. Racelis Principal, Tax Services Gentlemen : This refers to your tax treaty relief application filed on July 11, 2014, on behalf of Sojitz Corporation ( "Sojitz-Japan" ), requesting confirmation that dividends paid by Rio Tuba Nickel Mining Corporation ( "Rio Tuba" ) to Sojitz-Japan are subject to preferential tax rate of 15 percent pursuant to Article 10 (2) (b) 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, as amended by Protocol 1 ( "Philippines-Japan tax treaty, as amended" ). It is represented that Sojitz-Japan is a resident corporation in Japan within the meaning of Philippines-Japan tax treaty based on the Application for Residency Certification issued by the District Director of Kojimachi Tax Office dated June 20, 2014; that it was licensed to engage in business in the Philippines ( "Sojitz Corporation-Philippine Branch" ); that per Certification issued by Sojitz Corporation-Philippine Branch dated June 30, 2014, Sojitz Corporation-Philippine Branch has no participation whatsoever, directly or indirectly, in the investments of Sojitz-Japan and that Sojitz Corporation-Philippine Branch have no connection with the dividends to be received by Sojitz-Japan from Rio Tuba , and does not form part of the assets of Sojitz Corporation-Philippine Branch ; and that, on the other hand, Rio Tuba is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the Philippines. It is further represented, that at the meeting of the Board of Directors of Rio Tuba held on June 9, 2014, the Board of Directors of Rio Tuba declared cash dividends in the amount of One Billion Pesos (P1,000,000,000) out of the unrestricted retained earnings in favor of all Rio Tuba 's shareholders on record as of May 31, 2014, payable on July 15, 2014; that as of May 31, 2014, Sojitz-Japan holds 102,000,000 shares with a total par value of P102,000,000.00 which represents 4 percent ownership in Rio Tuba ; and that these shares was acquired by Sojitz-Japan from 1975 to 2012. It is finally represented, per Sworn Statement dated June 27, 2014 issued by Rio Tuba , 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. (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: cSaATC "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. xxx xxx xxx 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. Accordingly, considering the representation that Sojitz Corporation-Philippine Branch has no participation whatsoever, directly or indirectly, in the investments of Sojitz-Japan and that Sojitz Corporation-Philippine Branch have no connection with the dividends to be received by Sojitz-Japan from Rio Tuba , and does not form part of the assets of Sojitz Corporation-Philippine Branch , and that Sojitz-Japan holds only 4 percent ownership of Rio Tuba , then this Office is of the opinion as it hereby holds that the dividends paid by Rio Tuba to Sojitz-Japan are subject to the 15 percent preferential tax rate, pursuant to the Article 10 (2) (b) of the amended Philippines-Japan tax treaty. 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. cHDAIS Very truly yours, (SGD.) KIM S. JACINTO-HENARES Commissioner of Internal Revenue Footnotes 1. Protocol amending treaty took effect on January 1, 2009.