Welcome to our comprehensive pillar page, your go-to resource for understanding Percentage tax’s impact on Philippine businesses. This guide serves as your ultimate resource to grasp the Philippine percentage tax: who pays and how it functions in taxation.

For Filipino entrepreneurs, staying informed about taxes is vital. The Philippine percentage tax is especially important. Read on to learn more about the concept of the Philippine percentage tax, explore its purpose, and highlight its significance for businesses. 

What is Philippine Percentage Tax?

Percentage tax is a form of business tax imposed by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) in the Philippines. This tax applies to certain types of transactions or industries, and businesses calculate it as a fixed percentage of their gross sales or gross receipts. The government designed this tax to generate revenue and guarantee a fair distribution of the tax burden among businesses operating in the country.

The scope of percentage tax encompasses various sectors and activities. This tax applies to businesses that are not registered under the value-added tax (VAT) system and that have gross annual sales or receipts not exceeding P3,000,000. It also extends to individuals or entities engaged in specific professional services such as medical, legal, and accounting. Certain industries, such as real estate, banking, and finance, may also be subject to a percentage tax on specific transactions.

What are the key features and characteristics of percentage tax?

The key features and characteristics of percentage tax are crucial for businesses to accurately assess their tax liabilities. Here are the main aspects to consider: 

Flat rate: Philippine percentage tax is levied at a fixed rate of 3%. The BIR determines the applicable nature of the transaction or industry. The BIR determines the applicable rate, and it is essential for businesses to stay updated with any changes or revisions to ensure compliance. 

Calculating based on gross sales or receipts: Unlike other taxes such as income tax or VAT, which calculate based on profits or the value of goods and services, businesses compute the percentage tax by considering the total gross sales or gross receipts they generate.

Filing and paying regularly: Businesses that the percentage tax applies to must file tax returns and make quarterly payments using the BIR Form 2551Q. Compliance with reporting and payment deadlines is essential to avoid penalties and ensure a smooth tax administration process. 

What are the percentage tax rates that business owners need to take note of? 

In this section, we will provide an overview of the different percentage tax rates that small businesses and startups need to be aware of. These rates can vary depending on the nature of the transaction or the type of goods or services involved.

Who is required to file the percentage tax? 

The list of required filers encompasses a diverse range of individuals and entities, including non-individuals, lessors, transportation services, franchise grantees, financial intermediaries, insurance companies, and operators of specific establishments, ensuring comprehensive coverage of taxable transactions in the Philippines. 

Who is exempted from paying percentage taxes? 

As per the BIR, businesses or individuals who earn less than P250,000 annually are exempt from paying percentage tax, income tax, or the 8% gross receipt tax. This is also in accordance with the TRAIN Act, which allows these businesses and individuals to not file any tax return. However, the Department of Finance is yet to release the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) for the changes in the TRAIN law. Bookmark this link to stay updated once the DOF releases the IRR. 

How to file? 

To ensure compliance with the filing and payment of the quarterly percentage tax, small businesses and startups must adhere to the following requirements and procedures:

Documentary Requirements:

• BIR Form 2551Q – Quarterly Percentage Tax Return Form
• Duly issued Certificate of Creditable Tax Withheld at Source (BIR Form 2307), if applicable
• Duly approved Tax Debit Memo, if applicable
• Proof of payment and the return previously filed, for amended return
• Authorization letter, if filed by an authorized representative
• Copy of Certificate of Registration issued by Cooperative Development Authority for cooperatives, and from the National Electrification Administration for electric cooperatives

Procedures: 

For Manual filing and/or payment:

• Download the revised BIR Form 2551Q in PDF format from the BIR Forms-VAT/Percentage Tax Returns section of the BIR website.

• Fill up BIR Form 2551Q in triplicate copies.

• Go to an Authorized Agent Bank (AAB) within the territorial jurisdiction of the Revenue District Office (RDO) where the taxpayer is registered.

• Present the duly accomplished BIR Form 2551Q and other required documents. If paying manually, present the documents along with the BIR-prescribed deposit slip and payment to the respective AAB.

• Individuals, in areas without AABs, should submit/pay the documents to the Revenue Collection Officer (RCO) using the Mobile Revenue Collection Officers System (MRCOS) or to the duly Authorized Treasurer of the city or municipality where the business or taxpayer is registered.

• Receive a copy of the duly validated/stamp-received BIR Form 2551Q from the AAB/RCO/authorized City or Municipal Treasurer.

• Manual filers who want to pay online can choose from various payment options such as GCash Mobile Payment, LandBank of the Philippines (LBP) Linkbiz Portal (for LBP/Bancnet ATM or Debit Card holders), or DBP Tax Online (for VISA/Master Credit Card/Bancnet ATM or Debit Card holders).

For eFPS filing and/or payment:

• Use the existing and enhanced old BIR Form 2551Q in the eFPS system, which contains all the alphanumeric tax codes (ATCs) listed in the form.
• Indicate the total gross sales/receipts for the quarter as the taxable amount in the quarterly percentage return.
• If you have paid percentage taxes for the first, second, or third month of the quarter, you should record the payment(s) in Item No. 20A-Creditable Percentage Tax Withheld per BIR Form 2307.
• After e-filing, proceed to online payment by clicking the “proceed to payment” button and pay the quarterly percentage tax due.

For eBIRForms filing and/or payment:

• Use the enhanced old BIR Form 2551Q in Offline eBIRForms Package V7, which includes all the alphanumeric tax codes (ATCs) enumerated in the form.

• Indicate the total gross sales/receipts for the quarter as the taxable amount in the quarterly percentage return.

• When you have paid percentage taxes during the first, second, or third month of the quarter, you need to indicate the payment(s) in Item No. 20A-Creditable Percentage Tax Withheld according to BIR Form 2307.

• Visit an Authorized Agent Bank (AAB) within the territorial jurisdiction of the RDO where the taxpayer is registered and present the duly accomplished BIR Form 2551Q and other requirements. If there is manual payment, present the documents along with the BIR-prescribed deposit slip and payment to the respective AAB.

• If no AABs are accessible, individuals must present the documents to the Revenue Collection Officer (RCO) through the Mobile Revenue Collection Officers System (MRCOS) or the duly Authorized Treasurer of the city or municipality where the business or taxpayer is registered.
• eBIRForms filers who want to pay online can choose from various payment options such as GCash Mobile Payment, LandBank of the Philippines (LBP) Linkbiz Portal (for LBP/Bancnet ATM or Debit Card holders), or DBP Tax Online (for VISA/Master Credit Card/Bancnet ATM or Debit Card holders).
• Please take note that late filing of “No payment” returns will lead to the RDO imposing penalties, which must be paid at the relevant AAB.

When to File/Pay?

You must file and pay the quarterly percentage tax return within twenty-five (25) days after the end of each taxable quarter.

Thank you for exploring the comprehensive guide on percentage tax filing and payment. We hope this resource has provided valuable insights and clarity regarding your obligations as a taxpayer. As tax regulations may evolve over time, it’s important to stay updated on any changes that may impact your business. 

If you have any further questions or need assistance with your tax obligations, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team of experts at CloudCfo. Bookmark this page and stay tuned for future updates!

CloudCfo is a global provider of top-notch accounting talents in the US, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the Philippines. Our team of accounting professionals provides accounting and finance expertise across different industries such as tech, food and beverage, retail, and real estate among others. Through our tech-empowered, process-driven, and output-focused approach to handling our client’s business accounting and finance functions, business owners can focus more on scaling and growing their businesses. We tailor our services according to each of our client’s business needs and offer flexibility, full transparency, and accountability in all the systems, workflows, and processes that we implement.

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