The International Bar Association’s (IBA) Taxes Committee
published its annual update on tax developments by jurisdiction for 2017. The
2017 update includes a Philippine report by SyCipLaw partner Hiyasmin H.
Lapitan entitled “Developments in Philippine Tax Laws and Regulations”.
The Philippine report summarizes recent updates related to tax treaty relief,
passed-on gross receipts tax, alternative modes of paying taxes, reduction of
real property tax on independent power producers, and case law, as well as upcoming
tax reform developments.

Read
the full Philippine report at the IBA website.

Other
2017 country reports available include Argentina, Australia, Austria,
Bangladesh, Belgium, Bulgaria, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China,
Colombia, Cyprus, Ecuador, Finland, France, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia,
Ireland, Israel, Italy, Kenya, Malaysia, Nepal, the Netherlands, New Zealand,
Nigeria, Norway, Russia, Serbia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain,
Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Venezuela, and Vietnam.

Hiyasmin
H. Lapitan regularly provides tax structuring advice. She has experience in
government contracts, and has worked on public biddings for government assets
and contracts. Her corporate work relate to investments in, and financing of
projects in various industries including energy, construction, and advertising
industries. Ms. Lapitan specializes in insurance law and has broad experience
in investments in, and regulation of, this sector.