[G.R. No. 143672. April 24, 2003] COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, petitioner, vs. GENERAL FOODS (PHILS.), INC., respondent.
D E C I S I O N
CORONA, J.:
Petitioner Commissioner of Internal Revenue (Commissioner) assails the resolution[1][1] of the Court of Appeals reversing the decision[1][2] of the Court of Tax Appeals which in turn denied the protest filed by respondent General Foods (Phils.), Inc., regarding the assessment made against the latter for deficiency taxes.
The records reveal that, on June 14, 1985, respondent corporation, which is engaged in the manufacture of beverages such as “Tang,” “Calumet” and “Kool-Aid,” filed its income tax return for the fiscal year ending February 28, 1985. In said tax return, respondent corporation claimed as deduction, among other business expenses, the amount of P9,461,246 for media advertising for “Tang.”
On May 31, 1988, the Commissioner disallowed 50% or P4,730,623 of the deduction claimed by respondent corporation. Consequently, respondent corporation was assessed deficiency income taxes in the amount of P2,635, 141.42. The latter filed a motion for reconsideration but the same was denied.
On September 29, 1989, respondent corporation appealed to the Court of Tax Appeals but the appeal was dismissed:
With such a gargantuan expense for the advertisement of a singular product, which even excludes “other advertising and promotions” expenses, we are not prepared to accept that such amount is reasonable “to stimulate the current sale of merchandise” regardless of Petitioner’s explanation that such expense “does not connote unreasonableness considering the grave economic situation taking place after the Aquino assassination characterized by capital fight, strong deterioration of the purchasing power of the Philippine peso and the slacking demand for consumer products” (Petitioner’s Memorandum, CTA Records, p. 273). We are not convinced with such an explanation. The staggering expense led us to believe that such expenditure was incurred “to create or maintain some form of good will for the taxpayer’s trade or business or for the industry or profession of which the taxpayer is a member.” The term “good will” can hardly be said to have any precise signification; it is generally used to denote the benefit arising from connection and reputation (Words and Phrases, Vol. 18, p. 556 citing Douhart vs. Loagan, 86 III. App. 294). As held in the case of Welch vs. Helvering, efforts to establish reputation are akin to acquisition of capital assets and, therefore, expenses related thereto are not business expenses but capital expenditures. (Atlas Mining and Development Corp. vs. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, supra). For sure such expenditure was meant not only to generate present sales but more for future and prospective benefits. Hence, “abnormally large expenditures for advertising are usually to be spread over the period of years during which the benefits of the expenditures are received” (Mertens, supra, citing Colonial Ice Cream Co., 7 BTA 154).
WHEREFORE, in all the foregoing, and finding no error in the case appealed from, we hereby RESOLVE to DISMISS the instant petition for lack of merit and ORDER the Petitioner to pay the respondent Commissioner the assessed amount of P2,635,141.42 representing its deficiency income tax liability for the fiscal year ended February 28, 1985.”[1][3]
Aggrieved, respondent corporation filed a petition for review at the Court of Appeals which rendered a decision reversing and setting aside the decision of the Court of Tax Appeals:
Since it has not been sufficiently established that the item it claimed as a deduction is excessive, the same should be allowed.
WHEREFORE, the petition of petitioner General Foods (Philippines), Inc. is hereby GRANTED. Accordingly, the Decision, dated 8 February 1994 of respondent Court of Tax Appeals is REVERSED and SET ASIDE and the letter, dated 31 May 1988 of respondent Commissioner of Internal Revenue is CANCELLED.
SO ORDERED.[1][4]
Thus, the instant petition, wherein the Commissioner presents for the Court’s consideration a lone issue: whether or not the subject media advertising expense for “Tang” incurred by respondent corporation was an ordinary and necessary expense fully deductible under the National Internal Revenue Code (NIRC).
It is a governing principle in taxation that tax exemptions must be construed in strictissimi juris against the taxpayer and liberally in favor of the taxing authority;[1][5] and he who claims an exemption must be able to justify his claim by the clearest grant of organic or statute law. An exemption from the common burden cannot be permitted to exist upon vague implications.[1][6]
Deductions for income tax purposes partake of the nature of tax exemptions; hence, if tax exemptions are strictly construed, then deductions must also be strictly construed.
We then proceed to resolve the singular issue in the case at bar. Was the media advertising expense for “Tang” paid or incurred by respondent corporation for the fiscal year ending February 28, 1985 “necessary and ordinary,” hence, fully deductible under the NIRC? Or was it a capital expenditure, paid in order to create “goodwill and reputation” for respondent corporation and/or its products, which should have been amortized over a reasonable period?
Section 34 (A) (1), formerly Section 29 (a) (1) (A), of the NIRC provides:
(A) Expenses.-
(1) Ordinary and necessary trade, business or professional expenses.-
(a) In general.- There shall be allowed as deduction from gross income all ordinary and necessary expenses paid or incurred during taxable year in carrying on, or which are directly attributable to, the development, management, operation and/or conduct of the trade, business or exercise of a profession.
Simply put, to be deductible from gross income, the subject advertising expense must comply with the following requisites: (a) the expense must be ordinary and necessary; (b) it must have been paid or incurred during the taxable year; (c) it must have been paid or incurred in carrying on the trade or business of the taxpayer; and (d) it must be supported by receipts, records or other pertinent papers.[1][7]
The parties are in agreement that the subject advertising expense was paid or incurred within the corresponding taxable year and was incurred in carrying on a trade or business. Hence, it was necessary. However, their views conflict as to whether or not it was ordinary. To be deductible, an advertising expense should not only be necessary but also ordinary. These two requirements must be met.
The Commissioner maintains that the subject advertising expense was not ordinary on the ground that it failed the two conditions set by U.S. jurisprudence: first, “reasonableness” of the amount incurred and second, the amount incurred must not be a capital outlay to create “goodwill” for the product and/or private respondent’s business. Otherwise, the expense must be considered a capital expenditure to be spread out over a reasonable time.
We agree.
There is yet to be a clear-cut criteria or fixed test for determining the reasonableness of an advertising expense. There being no hard and fast rule on the matter, the right to a deduction depends on a number of factors such as but not limited to: the type and size of business in which the taxpayer is engaged; the volume and amount of its net earnings; the nature of the expenditure itself; the intention of the taxpayer and the general economic conditions. It is the interplay of these, among other factors and properly weighed, that will yield a proper evaluation.
In the case at bar, the P9,461,246 claimed as media advertising expense for “Tang” alone was almost one-half of its total claim for “marketing expenses.” Aside from that, respondent-corporation also claimed P2,678,328 as “other advertising and promotions expense” and another P1,548,614, for consumer promotion.
Furthermore, the subject P9,461,246 media advertising expense for “Tang” was almost double the amount of respondent corporation’s P4,640,636 general and administrative expenses.
We find the subject expense for the advertisement of a single product to be inordinately large. Therefore, even if it is necessary, it cannot be considered an ordinary expense deductible under then Section 29 (a) (1) (A) of the NIRC.
Advertising is generally of two kinds: (1) advertising to stimulate the current sale of merchandise or use of services and (2) advertising designed to stimulate the future sale of merchandise or use of services. The second type involves expenditures incurred, in whole or in part, to create or maintain some form of goodwill for the taxpayer’s trade or business or for the industry or profession of which the taxpayer is a member. If the expenditures are for the advertising of the first kind, then, except as to the question of the reasonableness of amount, there is no doubt such expenditures are deductible as business expenses. If, however, the expenditures are for advertising of the second kind, then normally they should be spread out over a reasonable period of time.
We agree with the Court of Tax Appeals that the subject advertising expense was of the second kind. Not only was the amount staggering; the respondent corporation itself also admitted, in its letter protest[1][8] to the Commissioner of Internal Revenue’s assessment, that the subject media expense was incurred in order to protect respondent corporation’s brand franchise, a critical point during the period under review.
The protection of brand franchise is analogous to the maintenance of goodwill or title to one’s property. This is a capital expenditure which should be spread out over a reasonable period of time.[1][9]
Respondent corporation’s venture to protect its brand franchise was tantamount to efforts to establish a reputation. This was akin to the acquisition of capital assets and therefore expenses related thereto were not to be considered as business expenses but as capital expenditures.[1][10]
True, it is the taxpayer’s prerogative to determine the amount of advertising expenses it will incur and where to apply them.[1][11] Said prerogative, however, is subject to certain considerations. The first relates to the extent to which the expenditures are actually capital outlays; this necessitates an inquiry into the nature or purpose of such expenditures.[1][12] The second, which must be applied in harmony with the first, relates to whether the expenditures are ordinary and necessary. Concomitantly, for an expense to be considered ordinary, it must be reasonable in amount. The Court of Tax Appeals ruled that respondent corporation failed to meet the two foregoing limitations.
We find said ruling to be well founded. Respondent corporation incurred the subject advertising expense in order to protect its brand franchise. We consider this as a capital outlay since it created goodwill for its business and/or product. The P9,461,246 media advertising expense for the promotion of a single product, almost one-half of petitioner corporation’s entire claim for marketing expenses for that year under review, inclusive of other advertising and promotion expenses of P2,678,328 and P1,548,614 for consumer promotion, is doubtlessly unreasonable.
It has been a long standing policy and practice of the Court to respect the conclusions of quasi-judicial agencies such as the Court of Tax Appeals, a highly specialized body specifically created for the purpose of reviewing tax cases. The CTA, by the nature of its functions, is dedicated exclusively to the study and consideration of tax problems. It has necessarily developed an expertise on the subject. We extend due consideration to its opinion unless there is an abuse or improvident exercise of authority.[1][13] Since there is none in the case at bar, the Court adheres to the findings of the CTA.
Accordingly, we find that the Court of Appeals committed reversible error when it declared the subject media advertising expense to be deductible as an ordinary and necessary expense on the ground that “it has not been established that the item being claimed as deduction is excessive.” It is not incumbent upon the taxing authority to prove that the amount of items being claimed is unreasonable. The burden of proof to establish the validity of claimed deductions is on the taxpayer.[1][14] In the present case, that burden was not discharged satisfactorily.
WHEREFORE, premises considered, the instant petition is GRANTED. The assailed decision of the Court of Appeals is hereby REVERSED and SET ASIDE. Pursuant to Sections 248 and 249 of the Tax Code, respondent General Foods (Phils.), Inc. is hereby ordered to pay its deficiency income tax in the amount of P2,635,141.42, plus 25% surcharge for late payment and 20% annual interest computed from August 25, 1989, the date of the denial of its protest, until the same is fully paid.
SO ORDERED.
