Executive Summary The 40% foreign ownership rule is one of the most important rules foreign investors must understand before investing in a Philippine corporation. In simple terms, some business activities in the Philippines must remain at least 60% Filipino-owned. This means foreign investors may own only up to 40% of the corporation. This is commonly called the “60-40 rule” or the “40% foreign ownership limit.” However, the rule does not apply to every business. Some indust

Photo by: The Luzonian LUCENA CITY July 1, 2026. Atty. Yasser R. Aureada, CPA, Managing Owner of Aureada CPA Law Firm, was conferred the Most Distinguished Alumni Award 2026 by the Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation (MSEUF) during its 79th Commencement Exercises held at the Enverga University Gymnasium. The award, presented by the University's leadership together with the MSEUF Alumni Association, Inc., recognizes graduates whose accomplishments in their chosen fields br

Executive Summary Foreigners can legally invest in Philippine corporations, but the rules depend on the type of business, the industry involved, and the level of foreign ownership allowed by law. Some corporations may be 100% foreign-owned. Others are subject to foreign equity limits, such as 40%, 30%, 25%, or lower, depending on the activity. Certain areas are also reserved fully or partly for Filipino citizens or Philippine nationals. This is why foreign investors should no

Executive Summary When a taxpayer receives a BIR tax assessment, the biggest mistake is not always failing to pay. Often, the bigger mistake is missing the deadline to protest. In the Philippines, tax assessments are deadline-driven. A taxpayer may have strong defenses, complete documents, and valid legal arguments, but these may be wasted if the protest is filed late or incorrectly. The most important deadline is usually the thirty-day period to protest a Final Assessment No