BIR, Pakistan Embassy Take Up Diplomatic Tax Exemptions, Double Taxation Agreement

 

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner Charlito Martin R. Mendoza met with H.E. Dr. Asima Rabbani, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to the Republic of the Philippines, through the endorsement of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Office of Protocol, to discuss areas of cooperation between the two countries on diplomatic tax exemptions, the Philippines-Pakistan Double Taxation Agreement, and potential collaboration on capacity building.

 

During the meeting, Commissioner Mendoza and Ambassador Rabbani affirmed their commitment to observe the reciprocity principle in diplomatic tax exemptions. Both sides also agreed to coordinate with the DFA in pursuing this objective.

 

Commissioner Mendoza also expressed openness to proposals for possible amendments to the current Philippines-Pakistan Double Taxation Agreement, which entered into force in 1981, should the Philippine Department of Finance and the Pakistani Ministry of Finance deem such amendments appropriate. Ambassador Rabbani, for her part, invited the BIR to send participants to taxation-related capacity-building courses and seminars in Islamabad.

 

Joining the Pakistani Embassy delegation were Ms. Fareeha Khan, Trade and Investment Counsellor, and Ms. Qurat Ul Ain Maryam, Third Secretary. From the BIR, Assistant Commissioner Faith M. Farochilen-Umandap of the Legal Service and Atty. Lyka Leigh M. Tolentino, Assistant Chief of the International Tax Affairs Division, also attended.