Isla Lipana & Co./PwC Philippines hosted the “Navigating Taxes” webinar on 21 October 2025, offering valuable insights into the evolving landscape of Philippine taxation. Over 600 attendees joined the session, underscoring the strong interest in the discussion's timely and practical themes.
Tax Managing Partner Carlos Carado II opened the event with a warm welcome, highlighting the convergence of national economic policies, tax regulations, and societal challenges that make conversations like these both timely and necessary. He emphasized the essential role of tax professionals in contributing to our country’s broader economic and social fabric, encouraging participants to engage actively, uphold integrity, and contribute to resilience and progress. His message set a collaborative and purposeful tone for the discussions that followed.
Serving as host and moderator, Tax Partner Chiara Gutierrez introduced the speakers for each focused segment, linking the themes and later steering the panel discussion to bring together the day's insights.
Tax Partner Mary Jean Balboa began the presentations with an in-depth exploration of the draft regulations on the Advance Pricing Agreement (APA). She provided a thorough overview of the key provisions and explained their anticipated impact on Philippine businesses. Her discussion shed light on the APA’s role in preemptively addressing transfer pricing issues before they arise.
Next, Tax Partner Roselle Caraig led an insightful discussion on the recently enacted Capital Markets Efficiency Promotion Act (CMEPA). She highlighted how the act aims to enhance the competitiveness of the Philippine investment market by rationalizing tax rates, simplifying compliance, and lowering entry barriers for investors. Roselle also discussed improvements related to the Personal Equity and Retirement Account (PERA), which aims to encourage savings and investments while boosting regional competitiveness. Her presentation offered a clear understanding of how CMEPA incentivizes investment and strengthens the capital markets.
The final technical session was facilitated by Tax Partner Brando Cabalsi, who covered the latest key updates in the tax landscape. He discussed changes to the rules on retirement plans, adjustments to de minimis benefits, and regulations under CREATE and CREATE MORE. Brando also reviewed significant court rulings on VAT and refund claims, offering practical insights for navigating the complexities of tax compliance and audits.
The presentations were followed by a panel discussion moderated by Chiara, weaving together key themes and audience questions that enriched the overall exchange. The conversation with Roselle, Jane, and Brando addressed a range of practical issues, such as the impact of CMEPA’s on investments of Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA)–registered entities, nuances in the APA implementation and compliance requirements for non-resident digital service providers. Drawing on their experience in tax strategy and policy interpretation, Chiara, Roselle, Jane and Brando offered perspectives that deepened the dialogue and bridged technical points with real-world implications for practitioners.
Tax Partner Lawrence Biscocho delivered the closing remarks, reflecting on the streamlined, elegant approach of CMEPA, the complex yet rewarding nature of APA, and the ongoing digital evolution in the tax system. Lawrence encouraged the attendees to view tax laws as instruments of trust and social progress, urging them to stay informed and compliant, wishing them efficient refunds, gentle audits, and seamless invoicing as they navigate the tax landscape with professionalism, adaptability, and even a sense of humor.
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