We Give the Advantage

Tax and Wealth Planning

We pride ourselves on developing the most creative and innovative solutions to complex legal challenges in the field of taxation required to achieve your business and personal goals. We bring the right people, ask the right questions and provide the best answers to every tax concern of yours.

Our tax expertise runs the gamut from bookkeeping needs, tax compliance, estate planning, and wealth management to tax assessments, audits, and litigation and criminal tax defense, including reducing more than a billion alleged tax deficiencies to only a few million, voiding more than a hundred million of tax assessment before the CTA and securing the liberty of several accused charged for tax evasion and other violations of the Tax Code.

Tax Review, Advice, and Compliance

We perform a comprehensive and meticulous evaluation of the overall adherence of our clients with the Tax Code, revenue regulations, revenue memorandum orders, revenue memorandum circulars, and prevailing jurisprudence and tax rulings to identify areas of possible exposure to tax liabilities and provide insights to avoid tax liabilities and minimize risks within the bounds of the law. We go beyond mere identification; we quantitatively analyze potential tax liabilities and evaluate associated risks.

We offer a holistic assessment, prudent advice, and innovative solutions that empower our clients to not only meet regulatory requirements but also proactively shape their tax strategies. Within the dynamic business landscape, where adherence and efficiency are paramount and directly impact the reputation of every company, our services stand as a pillar of support, enabling our clients to navigate the intricate realm of taxation with confidence and foresight.

Tax Incentives and Refunds Application

We provide holistic support to domestic and foreign enterprises seeking to secure and leverage tax incentives offered by various Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs), such as the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), Board of Investments (BOI), and Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), among others. We conduct thorough analyses to ascertain the alignment between the nature of business and operations of our clients and the qualifications and criteria set forth by these IPAs.

Our commitment encompasses every stage of the process, spanning from preparing and compiling the requirements to initiating the application, overseeing the approval procedure, and complying with the conditions of incentives. Our experience enables us to navigate potential hurdles, streamlining the process and enhancing the probability of successful outcomes. Our end goal is to not only secure approval of tax incentives and refunds application but also to ensure that our clients optimally benefit from the offered tax incentives.

Tax Assessments and Protests

Tax assessments are fundamental processes in which the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) evaluates the books of accounts, financial statements, and other relevant records of taxpayers as well as third-party information provided by other taxpayers to determine the accurate amount of tax liabilities. This process involves a detailed examination of earnings, deductions, expenses, and other financial transactions. However, discrepancies, errors, or misunderstandings may arise, leading to inaccurate assessments.

Our Firm assists taxpayers in reviewing assessments, conducting thorough analyses, and verifying their compliance with the Tax Code, revenue regulations, revenue memorandum orders, revenue memorandum circulars, and prevailing jurisprudence and tax rulings to ensure that they are not subjected to excessive or unjust tax liabilities. Our team of legal experts deftly guides taxpayers through the intricate process of reconciling discrepancies, substantiating their claims, and adeptly filing protests and reconsiderations when necessary.

Tax Ruling and Tax Treaty Relief Applications

In an interconnected global economy, businesses and individuals often engage in cross-border activities that necessitate a nuanced understanding of not only our Tax Code, revenue regulations, revenue memorandum orders, revenue memorandum circulars, and prevailing jurisprudence but also various International Tax Treaties which provide for tax relief on income derived by foreign or local residents of the Philippines and the foreign country from sources within their respective territories.

We ensure that our clients can confidently engage in cross-border transactions while minimizing the risks of double taxation. Through meticulous analyses of the provisions of International Tax Treaties, assessing the interplay of these Treaties with our own taxation laws, and crafting strategic plans to maximize advantages, we offer expert guidance aimed at not only avoiding potential financial burdens posed by double taxation but also in mitigating tax exposures and risks.

International Tax and Transfer Pricing

The rules and regulations pertaining to transfer pricing continue to evolve and weave a more intricate tapestry. An up-to-date knowledge of these rules and regulations, as well as procedures and documentation requirements, is vital in devising transfer pricing strategies that are compliant and consistent with the arm’s length methodologies set under the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development Transfer Pricing Guidelines.

Our Firm supports foreign companies at every stage to get their transfer pricing right and ensure that it could strongly stand up to scrutiny and assessment of tax authorities. We assist in the analysis and review of transfer pricing policies and processes, assessment and mitigation of risks, accomplishment and preparation of documentation requirements and reports, assistance with transfer pricing audits, and dispute avoidance and resolution.

Tariff and Customs

Businesses engaged in international trade must maintain a competitive position and reliability in the delivery of goods. This involves complex control procedures, which may take a certain amount of time and can make or break the reputation of companies.

Our Firm specializes in facilitating compliance with governmental and regulatory requirements. From providing invaluable insights, formulating strategic guidance, and managing customs audits to dealing with proceedings involving seizures of vessels and goods, we provide unwavering support to our clients at every step. Our expertise also includes advising and assisting in matters of valuation, commodity classification, quota, and customs tax and duties assessment.

Tax Litigation and Advocacy

Our strategy is geared towards the prevention of tax disputes and, if unavoidable, the exhaustion of all administrative remedies and mechanisms of alternative dispute resolution, particularly negotiation. However, when litigation is determined to be in the best interest of our clients, and there is no other effective remedy left, we are dedicated advocates and will vigorously defend our clients.

Our expertise lies in crafting formidable strategies that are firmly grounded in comprehensive preparation, meticulous research, and a careful analysis of all relevant factors and arguments. Our lawyers bring to the table a wealth of experience in identifying the appropriate remedies and approaches to maneuver the intricacies of administrative and court procedures and processes, enabling us to provide tailored solutions and effective representation.

Criminal Tax Defense

Taxation is intricate and multifaceted, demanding strict adherence to the Tax Code, revenue regulations, revenue memorandum orders, revenue memorandum circulars, and prevailing jurisprudence and tax rulings to maintain the financial integrity and the image that businesses have painstakingly built over time. However, complexities can sometimes lead to inadvertent errors or misunderstandings, which, if not resolved appropriately, may escalate into criminal charges.

Our specialized and dedicated criminal tax defense lawyers offer more than just the highest level of representation and defense; we offer peace of mind and a commitment to safeguarding the business, reputation, and financial future of our clients. With years of experience navigating the intricacies of taxation and criminal laws and procedures, we have developed a profound understanding of the strategies necessary to build a robust defense that has led to acquittals and reversals of convictions, even in cases where we intervened during later stages.

Local Business Tax and Real Property Tax

While internal revenue taxes undoubtedly hold substantial importance on a national scale, local business tax and real property taxes, however, play an equally crucial role at the municipal level. The issues involving local business tax and real property tax are no less intricate than internal revenue matters, and necessitate an equivalent level of legal expertise considering the complex tapestry of local tax ordinances, assessment methodologies, and valuation considerations.

We bring the same level of commitment to addressing local business tax and real property tax concerns, much like our resolute approach to internal revenue tax issues, characterized by steadfast dedication, innovative thinking, and a thorough understanding of the unique business operations of our clients. Our goal is not only to resolve immediate local business tax and real property tax concerns but also to cultivate a culture of compliance and offer avenues to minimize tax obligations while maximizing financial potential and growth opportunities.

Wealth Management and Estate Planning

The ability to manage, protect, and pass on wealth from generation to generation is a complex and multifaceted endeavor. Wealth management and estate planning encompass more than just assets, numbers, or gains; these are indispensable tools for charting a course toward sustainable financial success and crafting a legacy that will stand the test of time, impacting and benefiting not only the current generation of the family but of generations to come.

Our array of services encompasses strategic counsel on matters involving income and estate tax planning, business succession planning, financial planning, asset protection planning, digital estate planning, guardianship and conservatorship, and risk management, as well as facilitating philanthropic endeavors through well-informed charitable giving. We coordinate and collaborate with other advisors of our clients, including other counsels, accountants, asset custodians, and financial, investment, and insurance advisors and institutions.

Every client has unique needs, objectives, and goals. That is why we do not believe in one-size-fits-all solutions.

We approach each client with a fresh perspective. We do not let our preconceived notions cloud our judgment. We take the time to know and understand our clients before developing customized solutions.

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