On 21 November 2025, Isla Lipana & Co./PwC Philippines’ Japanese Business Development (JBD) team hosted another successful tax update seminar for Japanese companies at the Discovery Primea in Makati.
JBD Assistant Manager Yosuke Akahane opened the seminar with an overview of Philippine taxation, primarily aimed at newly assigned Japanese C-suite expatriates. His discussion covered basic tax concepts such as income tax, value-added tax (VAT), and withholding taxes. He also discussed recent developments in the Electronic Invoicing System (EIS), which is particularly relevant to large taxpayers under the Ease of Paying Taxes (EOPT) Law.
The second session served as the main highlight of the event, focusing on strategies for handling Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) tax audits. Tax Partner Nelson Soriano shared valuable insights on how to effectively prepare for tax audits, emphasizing the importance of proper documentation. Following his presentation, JBD Executive Director Toshiya Hayashida addressed the Japanese audience, underscoring the need for active communication with Japan/regional headquarters regarding tax audit status, especially in an the increasingly challenging tax audit environment.
The final session was led by JBD Principal Kentaro Tojo. Ken tackled key changes in the VAT refund landscape following the implementation of the EOPT law in 2024, which significantly transformed the VAT refund system in the Philippines. The seminar concluded with a networking cocktail session, where PwC professionals from various lines of service and Japanese participants exchanged ideas and fostered new connections within Manila’s Japanese business community.
JBD Executive Assistant Nelly Rose Abdon helped organize the tax seminar.
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