I

Briefly explain the following doctrines: lifeblood doctrine; necessity theory; benefits received
principle; and, doctrine of symbiotic relationship. (5%)

III

Rakham operates the lending company that made a loan to Alfonso in the amount of Pl20,000.00
subject of a promissory note which is due within one (1) year from the note's issuance. Three years
after the loan became due and upon information that Alfonso is nowhere to be found, Rakham asks
you for advice on how to treat the obligation as "bad debt." Discuss the requisites for deductibility of
a "bad debt?" (5%)

IV

The City of Maharlika passed an ordinance imposing a tax on any sale or transfer of real property
located within the city at a rate of fifty percent (50%) of one percent (1%) of the total consideration of
the transaction. Jose sold a parcel of land in the city, which he inherited from his deceased parents,
and refused to pay the aforesaid tax. He instead filed a case asking that the ordinance be declared
null and void since the tax it imposed can only be collected by the national government, as in fact he
has paid the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) the required capital gains tax. If you were the City
Legal Officer of Maharlika, what defenses would you raise to sustain the validity of the ordinance?
(5%)

Sure Arrival Airways (SAA) is a foreign corporation, organized under the laws of the Republic of
Nigeria. Its commercial airplanes do not operate within Philippine territory, or service passengers
embarking from Philippine airports. The firm is represented in the Philippines by its general agent,
Narotel.

SAA sells airplane tickets through Narotel, and these tickets are serviced by SAA airplanes outside
the Philippines. The total sales of airplane tickets transacted by Narotel for SAA in 2012 amounted to
Pl0,000,000.00. The Commissioner of Internal Revenue (CIR) assessed SAA deficiency income
taxes at the rate of 30% on its taxable income, finding that SAA's airline ticket sales constituted
income derived from sources within the Philippines.

SAA filed a protest on the ground that the alleged deficiency income taxes should be considered as
income derived exclusively from sources outside the Philippines since SAA only serviced
passengers outside Philippine territory. It, thus, asserted that the imposition of such income taxes
violated the principle of territoriality in taxation.

Is the theory of SAA tenable? Explain. (5%)

VI

Mapagbigay Corporation grants all its employees (rank and file, supervisors, and managers) 5%
discount of the purchase price of its products. During an audit investigation, the BIR assessed the
company the corresponding tax on the amount equivalent to the courtesy discount received by all
the employees, contending that the courtesy discount is considered as additional compensation for
the rank and file employees and additional fringe benefit for the supervisors and managers. In its
defense, the company argues that the discount given to the rank and file employees is a de
minimis benefit and not subject to tax. As to its managerial employees, it contends that the discount
is nothing more than a privilege and its availment is restricted.

Is the BIR assessment correct? Explain. (5%)

Congress issued a law allowing a 20% discount on the purchases of senior citizens from, among
others, recreation centers. This 20% discount can then be used by the sellers as a "tax credit." At
the initiative of BIR, however, Republic Act No. (RA) 9257 was enacted amending the treatment of
the 20% discount as a "tax deduction." Equity Cinema filed a petition with the RTC claiming that RA
9257 is unconstitutional as it forcibly deprives sellers a part of the price without just compensation.

[a] What is the effect of converting the 20% discount from a "tax credit" to a "tax deduction"?
(2.5%)

[b] If you are the judge, how will you decide the case? Briefly explain your answer. (2.5%)

XIV

Lucky V Corporation (Lucky) owns a IO-storey building on a 2,000 square meter lot in the City of
Makati. It sold the lot and building to Rainier. for P80 million. One month after, Rainier sold the lot
and building to Healthy Smoke Company (HSC) for P200 million. Lucky filed its annual tax return
and declared its gain from the sale of the lot and building in the amount of P750,000.00.

An investigation conducted by the BIR revealed that two months prior to the sale of the properties to
Rainier, Lucky received P40 million from HSC and not from Rainier. Said amount of P40 million was
debited by HSC and reflected in its trial balance as "other inv. - Lucky Bldg." The month after,
another P40 million was reflected in HSC's trial balance as "other inv. - Lucky Bldg." The BIR
concluded that there is tax evasion since the real buyer of the properties of Lucky is HSC and not
Rainier. It issued an assessment for deficiency income tax in the amount of P79 million against
Lucky. Lucky argues that it resorted to tax avoidance or a tax saving device, which is allowed by the
NIRC and BIR rules since it paid the correct taxes based on its sale to Rainier. On the other hand,
Rainier and HSC also paid the prescribed taxes arising from the sale by Rainier to HSC. Is the BIR
correct in assessing taxes on Lucky? Explain. (5%)

XV

Peter is the Vice-President for Sales of Golden Dragon Realty Conglomerate, Inc. (Golden Dragon).
A group of five (5) foreign investors visited the country for possible investment in the condominium
units and subdivision lots of Golden Dragon. After a tour of the properties for sale, the investors were
wined and dined by Peter at the posh Conrad's Hotel at the cost of Pl 50,000.00. Afterward, the
investors were brought to a party in a videoke club which cost the company P200,000.00 for food
and drinks, and the amount of P80,000.00 as tips for business promotion officers. Expenses at
Conrad's Hotel and the videoke club were receipted and submitted to support the deduction for
representation and entertainment expenses. Decide if all the representation and entertainment
expenses claimed by Golden Dragon are deductible. Explain. (5%)

XVII
The requisites for a valid waiver of the three-year (3-year) prescriptive period for the BIR to assess
taxes due in the taxable year are prescribed by Revenue Memorandum Order (RMO) No. 20-90:

1. The waiver must be in the proper form prescribed by RMO 20-90.

2. The waiver must be signed by the taxpayer himself or his duly authorized representative.
In the case of a corporation, the waiver must be signed by any of its responsible officials. In
case the authority is delegated by the taxpayer to a representative, such delegation should
be in writing and duly notarized.

3. The waiver should be duly notarized.

4. The CIR or the revenue official authorized by him must sign the waiver indicating that the
BIR has accepted and agreed to the waiver. The date of such acceptance by the BIR should
be indicated. However, before signing the waiver, the CIR or the revenue official authorized
by him must make sure that the waiver is in the prescribed form, duly notarized, and
executed by the taxpayer or his duly authorized representative.

5. Both the date of execution by the taxpayer and date of acceptance by the Bureau should
be before the expiration of the period of prescription or before the lapse of the period agreed
upon in case a subsequent agreement is executed.

6. The waiver must be executed in three copies, the original copy to be attached to the
docket of the case, the second copy for the taxpayer and the third copy for the Office
accepting the waiver. The fact of receipt by the taxpayer of his/her file copy must be
indicated in the original copy to show that the taxpayer was notified of the acceptance of the
BIR and the perfection of the agreement.

After being assessed by the BIR with alleged deficiency income taxes, VVV Corporation (VVV)
through Enrique, its President, executed a waiver of the prescriptive period. The waiver was signed
by Revenue District Officer (RDO) Alfredo. However, the waiver did not state the date of execution
by the taxpayer and date of acceptance by the BIR. Enrique was also not furnished a copy of the
waiver by the BIR.

VVV claims that the waiver is void due to non-compliance with RMO 20-90. Hence, the period for
assessment had already prescribed. Moreover, since the assessment involves P2 million, the waiver
should have been signed by the CIR and instead of a mere RDO. On the other hand, the BIR
contends that the requirements ofRMO No. 20-90 are merely directory; that the execution of the
waiver by VVV was a renunciation of its right to invoke prescription and that the government cannot
be estopped by the mistakes committed by its revenue officers. Is VVV liable? Explain. (5%)

XVIII

Henry, a U.S. naturalized citizen, went home to the Philippines to reacquire Philippine citizenship
under RA 9225. His mother left him a lot and building in Makati City and he wants to make use of it
in his trading business. Considering that he needs money for the business, he wants to sell his lot
and building and make use of the consideration. However, the lot has sentimental value and he
wants to reacquire it in the future. A friend of Henry told him of the "sale-leaseback transaction"
commonly used in the U.S., which is also used for tax reduction. Under said transaction, the lot
owner sells his property to a buyer on the condition that he leases it back from the buyer. At the
same time, the property owner is granted an option to repurchase the lot on or before an agreed
date. Henry approaches you as a tax lawyer for advice.

Explain what tax benefits, if any, can be obtained by Henry and the buyer from the sale-leaseback
transaction? (5%)

XIX

Jennifer is the only daughter of Janina who was a resident in Los Angeles, California, U.S.A. Janina
died in the U.S. leaving to Jennifer one million shares of Sun Life (Philippines), Inc., a corporation
organized and existing under the laws of the Republic of the Philippines. Said shares were held in
trust for Janina by the Corporate Secretary of Sun Life and the latter can vote the shares and receive
dividends for Janina. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) of the U.S. taxed the shares on the ground
that Janina was domiciled in the U.S. at the time of her death.

[a] Can the CIR of the Philippines also tax the same shares? Explain. (2.5%)

[b] Explain the concept of double taxation. (2.5%)

XX

Patrick is a successful businessman in the United States and he is a sole proprietor of a