Estate Tax Train Law in the Philippines

Are you familiar with the new estate tax train law in the Philippines? If you’re a business owner, employee, or student, you must know how this new legislation may impact you. This blog post will provide an overview of the estate tax train law and explain why it’s been introduced. We’ll also discuss the possible implications of this new law and offer advice on preparing for it. So, if you want to learn more about the estate tax train law in the Philippines, keep reading!

What is the Estate Tax?

The estate is the property of the person during his death.  It includes properties acquired during or before the end of the decedent. This property could be tangible or intangible. To avoid the acquisition of wealth at the expense of others or to avoid paying taxes from the properties transferred to the heirs is called “estate tax.” For more issuances related to estate tax train law, visit BIR Homepage.

Estate Tax Rate under Train Law

Before the implementation of the train law, the estate tax rate is progressive rates. Progressive rate means that the tax rate is getting higher as the taxable estate is increasing. Here is the estate tax table before the train law.

The estate tax before train law makes it complicated to compute the estate tax. The estate tax rate will depend on the type of the decedent. However, the train law makes it more straightforward to calculate the estate tax. The estate tax train law makes the tax rate fixed regardless of the type of the decedent. Based on the decedent’s net estate, the new estate tax rate is six percent (6%), whether resident or non-resident of the Philippines.

What is Included in the Estate Tax Train Law?

The decedent’s gross estate shall be composed of all properties and interests or fruits acquired before or within the death of the decedent. It includes revocable transfers and transfers for insufficient considerations.

However, if a decedent is a non-resident alien, the gross estate comprises properties in the Philippines. The intangible properties of the non-resident alien will be subjected to the rule of reciprocity. You will exclude any amounts withdrawn from the bank accounts or deposits subjected to a 6% final withholding tax from the gross estate.

What is the Valuation of Estate Tax Train Law?

General rule: Every property of the decedent is valued according to their fair market value at the time of his death.

Real Property

Any real property is valued at the fair market value as determined by the Commissioner or the fair market value (appraised value) by an assessor, whichever is higher.

Shares of Stocks

The market value of the stocks will depend on whether they are listed or non-listed in the stock exchanges. If the stocks are listed, the fair market value is equal to the mean between the highest and lowest value at the date of death, unless otherwise market value at the date of his death.

Those unlisted stocks are based on their book value, while preferred stocks are valued at par value. In computing the book value of the ordinary shares, the appraisal surplus shall not be included the same as to proffered stocks, if there is.

Annuity, Habitation, or Right to Usufruct

In determining the values, you must consider the probable life of the beneficiary with the latest basic standard mortality table.

What is the Allowed Deductions Estate Tax Train Law?

Standard Deductions

Under this TRAIN Law, the decedent can claim a standard deduction of 5,000,000.00 without requirements and requisites. This amount is allowed as a deduction for the benefit of the decedent. This deduction is part of the special deductions.

Claims Against the Estate

These are the debts or obligations of the decedent still unpaid at his death. The nature of the commitments must be enforceable against the estate of the decedent provided the following requisites:

  • A personal obligation of the deceased existing at the time of his death. You can’t enforce any duties incurred by the decedent’s heirs against the estate.
  • In good faith and for adequate and complete consideration of money or money’s worth.
  • It must be enforceable either by law, contract, or tort.
  • The creditor must condone it, or the action to collect from the decedent must not have been prescribed.

All unpaid obligations or debts can be claimed as a deduction from the gross estate provided that the following documents or requirements are complied with or substantiated:

  1. Simple loan, including advances. It must be duly notarized when you incurred the indebtedness, except for those loans granted by any financial institution.
  2. Unpaid obligations from the purchase of goods or services. Documents evidencing the interests or service, such as sales invoices, delivery receipts, or contracts for the services agreed to be rendered, must be duly acknowledged, executed, and signed by the decedent as debtor and creditor. The creditor must give A statement of account as duly received by the decedent debtor.

Related: Extrajudicial Settlement of Estate in the Philippines

Claims Against an Insolvent Person Under RA 10142.

Any decedent claims against an insolvent person can be allowed as a deduction, provided that the amount is included as part of the gross estate.

Unpaid Mortgage, Taxes, and Casualties

The unpaid mortgage diminishes some properties of the decedent. Since some of these properties are included without deducting the outstanding mortgage, the law provides that any delinquent mortgage must be allowed as a deduction from the decedent’s gross estate.

Taxes accrued at the time of death which was unpaid, will be treated as a deduction, except income taxes received after death, property taxes not accrued before his death, and estate tax due for the transfer of his estate.

Any insurance did not compensate any losses incurred during the estate settlement arising from fire, shipwreck, storms, robbery, theft, embezzlement, and other casualties.

Property Previously Taxed

Any properties received by the decedent either by donation of two living parties (inter vivos) or transfer of properties by a decedent (Mortis causa) within five years (5 years) before his death. These deductions shall be allowed only if you paid the donor’s tax or the estate tax.

The properties to be claimed as a deduction are valued below:

  • If the prior decedent died within one year (1) before the death of the decedent or properties transferred within one year shall claim 100% of the property’s value.
  • If the prior decedent died more than one year (1) but not exceeding two years (2) before the decedent’s death or properties transferred within two years shall claim 80% of the value of a property.
  • If the prior decedent died more than two years (2) but not exceeding three years (3) before the death of the decedent or properties transferred within two years shall claim 60% of the value of a property.
  • If the prior decedent died more than three years (3) but not exceeding four years (4) before the death of the decedent or properties transferred within two years shall claim 40% of the value of a property.
  • If the prior decedent died more than four years (4) but not exceeding five years (5) before the death of the decedent or properties transferred within two years shall claim 20% of the value of a property.

Related: Estate Tax Amnesty Extension 2022 in the Philippines

Properties Transferred for Public Use (TPU) or Donated to Government

All properties transferred for the use of the Government or any political subdivision for public purposes only will be allowed as deductions from a gross estate of the decedent.

Family Home

A family home is a dwelling place where the husband, wife, and family members reside. The family home includes the land on which it is situated.

The decedent can deduct Ten Million Pesos Only (10,000,000.00) from his gross estate, and the excess shall be subject to estate tax. It removal is allowed, provided the following conditions are met:

  • Certified by the Barangay Captain of the locality as an existing residential home of the decedent.
  • The fair market value must be part of the decedent’s gross estate.
  • The allowed deduction must be the fair market value at the time of his death but not exceeding the acceptable amount of 10,000,000.00, whether exclusive or conjugal properties.

Amounts Received by Heirs under R.A. no. 4917

These are the amounts received by the heirs due to the decedent’s death under R.A. 4917. The amount received by the heirs could be claimed as a deduction if it was previously included as part of the decedent’s gross estate.

½ Share of the Surviving Spouse

The law entitles the surviving spouse to ½ share of the marital or community properties of the decedent. You will exclude this net share of the surviving spouse from the gross estate to ensure that only the decedent’s share will be taxed.

When and how to File Estate Tax Train Law?

You shall file the estate tax within one (1) year from the decedent’s death. The Commissioner or any Revenue Officer may extend the time to file an estate tax return in a meritorious case, a reasonable extension, not exceeding thirty (30) days, for filing the return. Estate tax returns shall be paid when the executor, administrator, or heirs file the return.

Conclusions

The estate tax train law gives a more straightforward computation of estate tax. A fixed estate tax rate of six percent (6%) will make it easier to compute the tax payable. For more updates about the new issuance of filing of estate tax train law in the Philippines, read the latest tax updates 2019. If you find this tax update interesting, don’t forget to rate and share.

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