Business and Transfer Taxes

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Gross Estate

Module 6: Gross Estate

At the end of this module, you will be able to:

1. Comprehend and apply the transfer tax laws dealing estates
2. Emphasize transfers before death requiring inclusion in the gross estate
and property transferred to the surviving spouse

"Gross estate" and "gifts" refer to the real and personal property, whether tangible or
intangible or mixed. There are legal procedures to be followed in transferring properties.
Certain provisions of the law should be followed in order to have a smooth and official
transfer of estates.

GROSS ESTATE
SEC. 104. Definitions. - For purposes of this Title, the terms "gross estate" and "gifts"
include real and personal property, whether tangible or intangible, or mixed, wherever
situated: Provided, however, That where the decedent or donor was a nonresident alien at
the time of his death or donation, as the case may be, his real and personal property so
transferred but which are situated outside the Philippines shall not be included as part of
his "gross estate" or "gross gift": Provided, further, That franchise which must be exercised
in the Philippines; shares, obligations or bonds issued by any corporation or sociedad
anonima organized or constituted in the Philippines in accordance with its laws; shares,
obligations or bonds by any foreign corporation eighty-five percent (85%) of the business
of which is located in the Philippines; shares, obligations or bonds issued by any foreign
corporation if such shares, obligations or bonds have acquired a business situs in the
Philippines; shares or rights in any partnership, business or industry established in the
Philippines, shall be considered as situated in the Philippines: Provided, still further, that
no tax shall be collected under this Title in respect of intangible personal property: (a) if
the decedent at the time of his death or the donor at the time of the donation was a citizen
and resident of a foreign country which at the time of his death or donation did not impose
a transfer tax of any character, in respect of intangible personal property of citizens of the
Philippines not residing in that foreign country, or (b) if the laws of the foreign country of
which the decedent or donor was a citizen and resident at the time of his death or donation
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allows a similar exemption from transfer or death taxes of every character or description in
respect of intangible personal property owned by citizens of the Philippines not residing in
that foreign country.
The term "deficiency" means: (a) the amount by which tax imposed by this Chapter exceeds
the amount shown as the tax by the donor upon his return; but the amount so shown on the
return shall first be increased by the amount previously assessed (or collected without
assessment) as a deficiency, and decreased by the amounts previously abated, refunded or
otherwise repaid in respect of such tax, or (b) if no amount is shown as the tax by the
donor, then the amount by which the tax exceeds the amounts previously assessed, (or
collected without assessment) as a deficiency, but such amounts previously assessed, or
collected without assessment, shall first be decreased by the amount previously abated,
refunded or otherwise repaid in respect of such tax.
SEC. 85. Gross Estate. - 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 nonresident
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.
(A) Decedent's Interest. - To the extent of the interest therein of the decedent at the time of
his death;
(B) Transfer in Contemplation of Death. - To the extent of any interest therein of which the
decedent has at any time made a transfer, by trust or otherwise, in contemplation of or
intended to take effect in possession or enjoyment at or after death, or of which he has at
any time made a transfer, by trust or otherwise, under which he has retained for his life or
for any period which does not in fact end before his death (1) the possession or enjoyment
of, or the right to the income from the property, or (2) the right, either alone or in
conjunction with any person, to designate the person who shall possess or enjoy the
property or the income therefrom; except in case of a bonafide sale for an adequate and full
consideration in money or money's worth.
(C) Revocable Transfer. - (1) To the extent of any interest therein, of which the decedent
has at any time made a transfer (except in case of a bona fide sale for an adequate and full
consideration in money or money's worth) by trust or otherwise, where the enjoyment
thereof was subject at the date of his death to any change through the exercise of power (in
whatever capacity exercisable) by the decedent alone or by the decedent in conjunction
with any other person (without regard to when or from what source the decedent acquired
such power), to alter, amend, revoke, or terminate, or where any such power is
relinquished in contemplation of the decedent's death.
(2) For the purpose of this Subsection, the power to alter, amend or revoke shall be
considered to exist on the date of the decedent's death even though the exercise of the
power is subject to a precedent giving of notice or even though the alteration, amendment
or revocation takes effect only on the expiration of a stated period after the exercise of the
power, whether or not on or before the date of the decedent's death notice has been given
or the power has been exercised.
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Gross Estate

In such cases, proper adjustment shall be made representing the interests which would
have been excluded from the power if the decedent had lived, and for such purpose, if the
notice has not been given or the power has not been exercised on or before the date of his
death, such notice shall be considered to have been given, or the power exercised, on the
date of his death.
(D) Property Passing Under General Power of Appointment. - To the extent of any property
passing under a general power of appointment exercised by the decedent: (1) by will, or
(2) by deed executed in contemplation of, or intended to take effect in possession or
enjoyment at, or after his death, or (3) by deed under which he has retained for his life or
any period not ascertainable without reference to his death or for any period which does
not in fact end before his death (a) the possession or enjoyment of, or the right to the
income from, the property, or (b) the right, either alone or in conjunction with any person,
to designate the persons who shall possess or enjoy the property or the income therefrom;
except in case of a bona fide sale for an adequate and full consideration in money or
money's worth.
(E) Proceeds of Life Insurance. - To the extent of the amount receivable by the estate of the
deceased, his executor, or administrator, as insurance under policies taken out by the
decedent upon his own life, irrespective of whether or not the insured retained the power
of revocation or to the extent of the amount receivable by any beneficiary designated in the
policy of insurance, except when it is expressly stipulated that the designation of the
beneficiary is irrevocable.
(F) Prior Interests. - Except as otherwise specifically provided therein, Subsections (B), (C),
and (E) of this Section shall apply to the transfers, trusts, estates, interests, rights, powers,
and relinquishment of powers, as severally enumerated and described therein, whether
made, created, arising, existing, exercised or relinquished before or after the effectivity of
this Code.
(G) Transfers of Insufficient Consideration. - If any one of the transfers, trusts, interests,
rights, or powers enumerated and described in Subsections (B), (C), and (D) of this Section
is made, created, exercised, or relinquished for a consideration in money or money's worth,
but is not a bona fide sale for an adequate and full consideration in money or money's
worth, there shall be included in the gross estate only the excess of the fair market value, at
the time of death, of the property otherwise to be included on account of such transaction,
over the value of the consideration received therefor by the decedent.
(H) Capital of the Surviving Spouse. - The capital of the surviving spouse of a decedent shall
not, for the purpose of this Chapter, be deemed a part of his or her gross estate.

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Glossary

Gross Estate and Gifts: Include real and personal property, whether tangible or
intangible or mixed, wherever situated.
Decedent: A deceased person
Relinquish: To withdraw or retreat from
Ascertainable: Can be easily found out
Bona fide: genuine
Franchise: a special privilege granted to an individual or group
Tangible: capable of being appraised at an actual or approximate value
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Gross Estate

References and Supplementary Materials

Books

Revised EVAT Law (R.A. 9337)

The Comprehensive Tax Reform Program (R.A. 8424)

Ampongan, Omar (2012). Transfer and Business Taxation. Philippines.

Valencia and Roxas (2012). Transfer and Business Taxation. Baguio City. Valencia
Educational Supply.

De Leon (2012). Transfer and Business Taxation. Manila. Rex Bookstore.

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Online Supplementary Reading Materials

Bureau of Internal Revenue website; https://www.bir.gov.ph/; May 10, 2017

Journal
Australian Tax Forum. ISSN 0812-695X. The Tax Institute

Video
http://news.abs-cbn.com/video/business/02/14/17/estate-tax-reform-breezing-
through-congress