Philippines: The Court of Tax Appeals upheld the denial of Zuellig Pharma Asia Pacific Ltd's P59.81-million VAT refund claim after finding the company failed to meet documentary requirements. The court ruled that the lack of certificates of inward remittance for P2.88 million of zero-rated sales and non-compliant official receipts made the claim fatal.
The VATfaqs digest
Global VAT news, delivered Tuesday and Thursday. Free, curated from 50+ official sources, no spam.
No spam · Unsubscribe any time
BusinessWorld · about 22 hours ago
Philippines: Deloitte Philippines highlights that e-invoicing could curb corruption by improving tax transaction transparency, but notes the government’s limited tech capacity and lack of clear guidance as key challenges. Revenue Regulations No. 11-2025 set a March 2026 deadline for covered taxpayers to issue electronic invoices, later extended to 31 December 2026 by RR No. 26-2025.
BusinessWorld Online · 5 days ago
Philippines: The Supreme Court ruling and the CREATE MORE Act clarify VAT zero-rating eligibility for domestic market enterprises. DMEs that are high-value, with P15-billion investment or $100-million export sales, may qualify, while others may face 12% VAT on local purchases.
Manila Times · 13 days ago
Philippines: The Supreme Court has upheld the constitutionality of the VAT refund law for foreign tourists, confirming that the incentive is a valid policy measure to promote tourism. The law allows non-resident foreign tourists to claim VAT refunds on purchases of at least P3,000 per transaction from accredited retailers, provided the goods are taken out of the Philippines within 60 days of purchase.
Deloitte · 13 days ago
Philippines' VAT refund rules have evolved significantly since 1987, with recent changes under the Create More Act affecting zero-rated taxpayers. The Supreme Court clarified processing periods and documentation requirements in December 2025, tightening the 90+30 day rule.
ManilaTimes · 13 days ago
Philippines Supreme Court upholds constitutionality of VAT refund law for foreign tourists, confirming the policy as a valid tourism incentive.
Global Nation · 13 days ago
Philippines Supreme Court declares VAT refund for foreign tourists constitutional, upholding Republic Act No. 12079. The decision affirms the state’s right to offer fiscal incentives to boost tourism without violating equal protection.
Put your brand alongside trusted tax-tech intelligence across 150+ countries.
Key Takeaways
As of 9 July 2026, the Philippines Court of Tax Appeals upheld the denial of Zuellig Pharma Asia Pacific Ltd's P59.81-million VAT refund claim, citing failure to provide certificates of inward remittance for zero-rated sales.
On 9 July 2026, the Philippines Court of Tax Appeals found that Zuellig Pharma failed to supply certificates of inward remittance for P2.88 million of zero-rated sales and that its official receipts did not comply with invoicing requirements under the National Internal Revenue Code.
As of 9 July 2026, the Philippines Court of Tax Appeals ruled that certificates of inward remittance are mandatory for zero-rated sales to qualify for VAT refunds, and their absence renders the claim fatal.
Primary source
Read the full article at BusinessWorldThis summary was published on VATfaqs.com on 19 July 2026. It relates to VAT developments in Philippines. The original source is BusinessWorld.
