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Estate Taxation
Estate Taxation
Estate Taxation
Transfer tax is defined as a tax imposed on gratuitous transfer of property, rights and obligations.
Two General Ways of Transferring Ownership of Property
Onerous transfer is one where as part of the transfer process, there is a consideration or burden required from Bilateral transfers or exchanges,
the transferee. This kind of transfer is characterized by the exchange of values between the transferor and such as sale and barter. These
transferee. are referred to as “onerous
transfer”.
Gratuitous transfer is one where there is no burden that is imposed on or consideration required from, the Unilateral transfers, such as
recipient or transferee. succession – transfer of property
upon death and donation. These
Kinds of Gratuitous Transfer are referred to as “gratutitous
1. Estate Tax – Which is a kind of transfer tax imposed on gratuitous transfer of property which takes transfer”.
effect upon death of the transferor. ( A tax levied upon the transfer of the net estate of a decedent to
his heirs)
2. Donor’s Tax – Which is a kind of transfer tax imposed on gratuitous transfer of property that is
completed even during the lifetime of the transferor.
On the basis, transfer tax is considered as excise tax.
Under current usage, unilateral transfers are simply referred to as “transfer” while bilateral transfers are called “exchanges”. Benefits derived from
onerous transactions are “earned or realized”, hence subject to income tax. Benefits derived from gratuitous transactions are not realized because of
the absence of an earning process. Benefits from gratuitous transactions are subject to transfer tax not income tax.
Complex transactions- are partly gratuitous and partly onerous. These transactions are commonly referred to as “transfer for less ull and adequate
consideration”. The gratuitous portion of the transaction is subject to transfer tax while the benefit from the onerous portion is subject to income tax.
PROBLEM
Problem 1: (Income tax and Transfer tax) Check the box where each of the following items is taxable:
Income tax Transfer tax
1. Sale of goods X
2. Donation of goods X
3. Barter of goods X
4. Transfer of properties from a decedent to his heirs upon death X
5. Transfer for less than full and adequate consideration
Elements of Succession
a. Decedent- the person whose property is transmitted through succession, whether or not he left a will (Art 775, CCP)
b. Heir- the person called to the succession either by the provision of a will or by operation of law (Art. 782,CCP)
c. Estate- refers to all the property, rights and obligations of a person which are not extinguished by his death (Art. 776, CCP)
Requisites of Succession
1. Death of the transferor or decedent
2. Estate or the mass of properties left by the decedent
3. Successors, beneficiaries, or heirs of the decedent
4. Executors and/or administrator
Kinds of Succession
Testate succession – 1. Testamentary- succession which results from the designation of an heir, made in a will executed in the form prescribed
is one that takes effect by law (Art. 779,CCP)
by virtue of a will
executed by a person, While the decedent may dispose of his properties in a last will and testament, he must, however, reserve some for certain
known as the persons who are called by law as compulsory or forced heirs.
decedents, in favor of Kinds of successors in a testamentary succession
another or other 1. Legatee- an heir to a particular personal property given by virtue of a will.
beneficiaries (also 2. Devisee- an heir to a particular real property given by virtue of a will.
known as heirs) in the Executor- is the person nominated by a testator to carry out the directions and request in his will and to
form prescribed by dispose of his property according to his testamentary provisions after his death.
law. Kinds of compulsory heirs:
1. Primary – those who have precedence over and exclude other compulsory heirs (i.e. legitimate children
and descendants)
2. Secondary – those who succeed only in the absence of the primary compulsory heirs (i.e. legitimate
parents and ascendants)
3. Concurring – those who succeed together with the primary or secondary compulsory heirs (i.e.
illegitimate children and descendants and surviving spouse)
Under testamentary succession, the mass of properties left by the decedent may be classified into:
1. Legitime is the portion of the testator’s property which could not be disposed of freely because the law
has reserved it for the compulsory heirs. (Art.886,CCP)
Administrator is a person appointed by the court, in accordance with the governing statute, to administer and settle
intestate estate and such testate estate as no competent executor designated by the testator.
Mixed succession – is 3. Mixed- transmission of properties, which is effected partly by will and partly by operation of law.
one that is effected
partly through a will
and partly by operation
of law.
Table C- Legitimes
Collateral Relatives
Consanguinity The relation of persons descending from the same stock or common ancestors. These person are known as blood
relatives and are said to be related by blood or consanguinity.
Lineal consanguinity Which may be descending or ascending, is that which subsists between persons or whom one is descended in a
direct line from the other.
Collateral consanguinity Which subsists between persons who have the same ancestors, but who not descend (or ascend) one from the
other.
Proximity of relationship Determined by the number of generations. Each generation forms a degree.
AB
CE DF
GK H I JL
M N
Notes:
1. In the illustration, C and D are siblings. Their common parents are A and B.
2. G is the daughter of C and E; J is the son of D and F.
3. M is the son of G and K; N is the daughter of J and L.
4. A, C, G and M, in that order, are relatives in the descending direct line. From A to C is one degree; from C to G is another degree and G to M is
another degree.
5. N, J, D and B, in that order, are relatives in the ascending direct line.
6. C, G and M, are relatives of D, J and N in the collateral line.
7. G is the niece of D, D is the uncle of G; J is the nephew of C, C is the aunt of J.
8. H and I are first cousins; they are four degrees apart, H to C, C to AB, AB to D and D to I.
9. M and N are second cousins; they are six degrees apart.
10. Because of G’s marriage to K, K becomes H’s brother-in-law, H being G’s brother. They become relatives by affinity. Affinity is the
connection existing consequence of a marriage between each of the married spouse and the kindred of the other.
PROBLEMS
Problem 1: (Legitimes and Free Portion of the Estate)
A died leaving an estate valued at P24,000,000. The surviving heirs were his spouse, 2 legitimate children and 1 illegitimate child.
Required: Distribute the estate by applying the rules on legitimes.
Notes:
The legitime of the children is always ½ of the total estate regardless of the number of children
The legitime of an illegitimate child is ½ of the legitime of 1 legitimate child.
The legitime of the surviving spouse varies as shown in table C
The free portion may be given by the testator to anyone in accordance with his wishes. However, only voluntary heirs included in the
provisions of the will should be recognized.
Problem 2: Assume the same data with Problem 1, except that there is only 1 legitimate child.
Required: Distribute the estate by applying the rules on legitimes.
Problem 3: Assume the same data with Problem 2 except that the testator provided P10,000,000 to his secretary.
Required: Distribute the estate by applying the rules on legitimes.
Note:
In this case, since P10,000,000 was allotted to the secretary, the legitimes of the children and the surviving spouse were impaired. The amount of
estate left after deducting P10,000,000 will not enough to satisfy the legitimes of the compulsory heirs amounting to P18,000,000. Hence, the
amount to be given to the secretary should be modified or reduced to P6,000,000 to satisfy the legitimes.
Purpose of Estate Tax
The following theories have been used to justify the imposition of estate tax:
1. Benefit received theory – under this theory, the estate tax is paid on return for the services rendered by the state in the distribution of the
estate of the decedent and for the benefits that accrue to the estate and the heirs.
2. State partnership theory – the tax is considered the share of the state as a “passive and silent partner” in the accumulation of property.
3. Ability to pay theory – the tax is based on the fact that the receipt of inheritance creates an ability to pay and thus the receipt of
inheritance creates an ability to pay and thus to contribute to governmental income.
4. Redistribution of wealth theory – the tax is imposed to help reduce undue concentration of wealth in society to which the receipt of
inheritance is a contributing factor.
a. Resident Citizen
2. Types of Properties
3. Taxability of the estate in accordance to the classification of a decedent and type of property
Classification of Decedent Properties located in the Philippines Properties located in a Foreign Country
Tangible Intangible Tangible Intangible
Real Real
personal personal personal personal
properties properties
properties properties properties properties
Resident Citizen / / / / / /
Non-Resident Citizen / / / / / /
Resident Alien / / / / / /
Non-Resident Alien / / /* X X X
b. Basic Rules
When there is reciprocity - The intangible personal property of non-resident alien situated in the Philippines are not included in the gross estate
When there is no reciprocity - The intangible personal property of non-resident alien situated in the Philippines are included in the gross estate
G ross estate (SEC. 85) - The value of the gross estate of the decedent shall be determined by including the value at the time of his death of all
property, real or personal, tangible or intangible, wherever situated: Provided, however, that in the case of a non-resident decedent who at the
time of his death was not a citizen of the Philippines, only that part of the entire gross estate which is situated in the Philippines shall be
included in his taxable estate.
These are properties which at the time of the death of the decedent are not part of the decedent’s assets because these were already
transferred by him during his lifetime.
The values of these properties will be included in determining the value of the gross estate even though such properties are not anymore the
part of the assets of the decedent.
Transfer in contemplation of death is a transfer of property motivated by the thought of death, althought death may not be imminent.
Examples of motives that preclude a transfer from the category of one made in contemplation of death (Motives associated with life)
1) To relieve donor from the burden of management
2) To save income or property taxes
b. Revocable Transfer.
A revocable transfer is a transfer where the enjoyment of the property maybe altered, amended or revoked.
e. Transfer with retention or reservation of certain rights (possession or enjoyment of, or the right to the income from the property, or the
right to designate a person who may exercise such right)
3. Interests
d. Family Home
The family home refers to the dwelling house , including the land on which it is situated, where the husband and the wife, or an unmarried
person who is the head of the family and members of the family reside, as certified by the Barangay Captain of the locality.
As a rule, the interest must exist at the time of the decedent’s death to be included as part of the gross estate.
Examples
1. Dividends declared on or before the death of the stockholder, and received by the estate after said stockholder’s death.
2. Partnership’s profit earned prior to death of the partner, received by the estate after the partner’s death.
3. Accrued interest and rents on or before the time of death, but collection was made after death.
Exercises:
a. Determine which of the following transactions are taxable transfers.
Transaction Answer
1) Property transferred inter vivos, transferor is of advanced age and died within 3 years after the date of transfer.
2) Property sold for adequate and full consideration, transferor/seller died after one day because of incurable disease.
3) Property sold for P1, 000,000. The FMV of the property sold was P 1,100,000.
4) Property transferred, transferor has the right to take back the property.
5) Property transferred, transferor has the right to take back the property. The transferor has waived the right before he died.
6) Property transferred, the transferee has the power to appoint or transfer to anybody the said property.
7) Property transferred, the transferee has the power to appoint or transfer to anybody the said property as designated by the
transferor.
8) Property transferred, the transferor has the right to the income of the property transferred while he is still alive.
9) Property donated, Donor’s tax paid. In the deed of donation, the donor expressly reserved for himself the usufruct over the Revocable transfer
property (yes)
c. Identify which of the following cases of proceeds of life insurance will be included in the gross estate.
1) Proceeds of life insurance, daughter of the insured was irrevocably designated as beneficiary of the life insurance.
2) Proceeds of life insurance, wife of the insured was revocably designated as beneficiary of the life insurance.
3) Proceeds of life insurance, the beneficiary’s designation was not stated in the insurance policy.
4) Proceeds of life insurance, the administrator of the estate was revocably designated as beneficiary of the life insurance.
5) Proceeds of life insurance, the executor of the estate was irrevocably designated as beneficiary of the life insurance.
6) Benefits received from SSS, beneficiary was irrevocably designated as beneficiary.
7) Benefits from GSIS, beneficiary was revocably designated as beneficiary.
8) Proceeds of life insurance, the estate was designated as beneficiary of it.
9) Proceeds of life insurance from group insurance.
Capital/ Paraphernalia Property (exclusive property) of surviving spouse – The capital/ paraphernalia of the surviving spouse of a decedent
shall not be deemed a part of the gross estate of the decedent.
b. Properties acquired by gratuitous (or lucrative) title during marriage. b. Properties obtained from labor, industry, work or profession of either
or both of the spouses.
c. Properties acquired by right or redemption or by exchange with c. The fruits, natural, industrial or civil, due or received during the
other property belonging to only one of the spouses. marriage from the common property, as well as the net fruits from
the exclusive property of each spouse.
d. Properties acquired with the exclusive money of either spouse. d. The share of either spouse in the hidden treasure which the law
awards to the finder or owner of the property where the treasure is
found.