Managing transactions with related parties is becoming increasingly important. We offer comprehensive transfer pricing solutions based on OECD guidelines and Philippine rules. Our transfer pricing team assists you in transfer pricing, planning and benchmark analysis, as well as in choosing appropriate transfer pricing systems and methods. In the event of mergers and acquisitions, we help you integrate the different transfer pricing systems to optimize the allocation of resources. On January 3, 2013, the Ministry of Finance released the much-anticipated Income Rules (RR) 2-2013, which are now the consolidated transfer pricing (RR) rules and regulations in the Philippines. We help you defend the transfer pricing policy on your behalf. We can negotiate preferential price agreements (APAs) with the tax authorities and represent you in reciprocal agreements and arbitration procedures. The Philippines generally complies with OECD transfer pricing rules. Regulation 2-2013 on revenue taxes adopted in January 2013 contains the guidelines for transfer pricing in the Philippines. It requires simultaneous documentation of transfer pricing for transactions with related parties. The appendix begins with the definition of the different types of APA and describes the objectives of the APA process.
The ability to participate in an APA MAP is considered with respect to contractual issues and other factors such as the audit status of the subject. Issues relating to multilateral GPAs (i.e., where there is more than one bilateral agreement) are also addressed. The central point of the annex deals in detail with the whole MAP-APA procedure, starting with the meetings before the presentation, on the presentation of a proposal, its evaluation by the tax authorities, the discussion and conclusion of the mutual agreement, the implementation of this mutual agreement and, finally, the follow-up of the agreement and a possible extension. While the Schedule focuses on the direction of tax authorities, it takes the opportunity to discuss how the taxpayer can best contribute to this process. In recent months, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (“BIR”) has strengthened the application of transfer pricing rules and accelerated the pace of the integration of transfer pricing controls into BIR`s regular audits. In the BIR`s strategic plan for 2019-2023, the BIR expressly indicated its intention to address transfer pricing issues, particularly when it leads to base erosion and profit shifting (“BEPS”). The BIR is committed to institutionalizing reporting obligations, organizational agreements, advance pricing agreements (“APAs”), mutual agreement procedures (“MAP”) and documentation requirements. In particular, the proposed APA program is a voluntary program aimed at increasing the efficiency of tax administration and reducing the burden of respecting taxpayers in addressing transfer pricing issues. Prior to the execution of the covered transaction, bir and the subject agree on the most appropriate transfer pricing method for the transaction.
In the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) strategic plan for 2019-2023, one of its priority programs is to implement Advance Pricing Arrangements to address the country`s growing transfer pricing concerns, including base erosion and profit transfers.