MTF Articles Archives - MTF Counsel | Tax, Customs, Commercial, Corporate Lawyers Philippines

Term limit and cooling-off period for broker directors

Written on June 18, 2026. Posted in MTF Articles.

By: Atty. Mary Grace S. Tejada on June 18, 2026 THE Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has intensified its efforts to strengthen corporate governance standards and enhance regulatory oversight across publicly listed companies and market participants in the Philippines. Toward this end, it...

Determining quorum in corporations

Written on June 11, 2026. Posted in MTF Articles.

By: Atty. Euney Marie J. Mata-Perez on June 11, 2026 THE quorum issue is very much in discussion today because of the controversy in our Senate. In this article, we revisit the concept from a corporation law perspective. The term “quorum” has been defined as “that number of members of the body...

Arbitration in the Philippines: Laws, principles and enforcement

Written on June 4, 2026. Posted in MTF Articles.

By: Atty. Xela Leona D. Laqui on June 4, 2026 AS business transactions become more complex, disputes between parties are becoming increasingly common. Traditionally, these were resolved through court litigation. However, litigation can be time-consuming, expensive and open to the public. Because...

The independent director concept

Written on May 28, 2026. Posted in MTF Articles.

By: Atty. Euney Marie J. Mata-Perez on May 28, 2026 THE requirement of having independent directors in Philippine boards has evolved from being a mere corporate governance mandate into a legal one under the Revised Corporation Code (RCC or Republic Act 11232) and the Securities Regulation Code...

Exemption from Excise Tax of Petroleum Products and Refund Mechanism

Written on May 21, 2026. Posted in MTF Articles.

By: Atty. Aziza Hannah A. Bacay on May 21, 2026 AS a general rule, petroleum products are subject to excise tax, the rates of which vary depending on the kind of product and volume involved. Recent international conflicts, however, brought about an energy crisis and price hikes, which triggered...

Benefits of trademark registration

Written on May 7, 2026. Posted in MTF Articles.

By: Atty. Rey Christian M. Guintibano on May 7, 2026 IN today’s competitive and brand-driven marketplace, a business’ trademark is one of its most valuable assets and protecting it is essential. The Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines (IP Code) recognizes this and provides a legal...

RPT not a prerequisite to LBT payment

Written on April 23, 2026. Posted in MTF Articles.

By: Atty. Kaeth Louis C. Estrada on April 23,2026 BUSINESSES frequently face challenges when applying for business permits and paying local business taxes (LBT). Before a local government unit issues or renews permits or accepts LBT payments from a business, it will require the submission of specific...

Taxpayers as top withholding agents

Written on April 16, 2026. Posted in MTF Articles.

By: Atty. Lew Earvin H. Manarin on April 16, 2026 TAXES are rarely simple. But the withholding tax mechanism reflects a clear and practical policy choice: collect income tax at source before it is lost to non-compliance. For taxpayers, this system is important in determining whether they have...

Taxation of cross-border services clarified

Written on April 9, 2026. Posted in MTF Articles.

By: Atty. Euney Marie J. Mata-Perez on April 9, 2026 THE Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has clarified that not all income from cross-border transactions should be considered Philippine-sourced income. On March 30, 2026, the BIR issued Revenue Memorandum Circular (RMC) 24-2026 to clarify the...