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

Executive Summary Receiving a BIR Final Assessment Notice, or FAN, is one of the most serious stages of a tax audit. It means the Bureau of Internal Revenue has issued a formal assessment and demand for payment of alleged deficiency taxes. However, a FAN does not always mean the taxpayer has no more options. In many cases, taxpayers may still challenge the assessment by filing a proper protest within the required period. The key is timing, documentation, and strategy. A succe

Executive Summary Directors and officers are trusted to make decisions for the benefit of the corporation. They manage corporate affairs, protect company assets, approve transactions, and represent the interests of the business and its stockholders. Because of this trust, they are expected to avoid conflicts of interest. A conflict of interest happens when a director or officer has a personal, financial, family, or business interest that may affect, or appear to affect, their