DUTERTE SIGNS CREATE BILL INTO LAW

President Rodrigo Duterte has signed into law Republic Act 11534 or the “Corporate
Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (Create) Act,” which seeks to lower
corporate income tax and streamline fiscal incentives for impacted industries.

But Duterte vetoed some provisions of the new law, including the increase of the value-

added tax-exempt threshold on sales of real property; 90-day period for processing of

general tax refunds; definition of investment capital; and redundant incentives for

domestic enterprises.

“I suggest that the legislature, the Department of Finance and the BIR (Bureau of Internal

Revenue) come up with mechanisms to streamline the process of tax refunds in a separate

tax administration bill,” Duterte told Congress.

The President also vetoed items on allowing existing registered activities to apply for

new incentives for the same activity, limitations on the power of the Fiscal Incentives

Review Board, particular industries mentioned under activity tiers as well as provisions
granting the President the power to exempt any investment promotion agency from the

reform.

Albay Second District Rep. Jose Ma. Clemente “Joey” Salceda, chief author of the bill,

welcomed the passage of the law.

“Create has been created. This is one of the pins of light signaling the end of this dark

economic tunnel,” Salceda said.

The Create Act will slash corporate income tax (CIT) to 25 percent from 30 percent,

which is regarded as one of the highest rates in Southeast Asia. It will also reduce CIT to

20 percent for micro, small and medium enterprises with net taxable income of less than

P5 million and total assets below P100 million.

Under the new law, key domestic market enterprises may be given up to 12 years of

incentives, including four to seven years of income tax holiday. It aims to provide relief

to businesses affected by the pandemic and help Filipinos generate jobs through foreign

direct investments.

Create may be applied retroactively from July 2020, paving the way for corporate

taxpayers to save on their yearly payments.