Question

What are the specific items that are included in the computation of gross income and the specific items that are excluded from gross income.

What are some of the items that are specifically included in the calculation of gross income? What items have been specifically excluded in the computation of gross income? Are you surprised by any of these items? Why do you think that Congress specifically included or excluded any of these items? Does an exclusion from income mean that it is not taxable?

Answer 1

Section 32 (A) - INCLUSION, meaning they are part of the gross income and are hence taxable:

Under Section 32 (A), Except when otherwise provided in this Title, gross income means all income derived from WHATEVER SOURCE, including, but not limited to the following items:

(1) Compensation for services in whatever form paid, including, but not limited to fees, salaries, wages, commissions, and similar items;
(2) Gross income derived from the conduct of trade or business or the exercise of a profession;
(3) Gains derived from dealings in property;
(4) Interests;
(5) Rents;
(6) Royalties;
(7) Dividends;
(8) Annuities;
(9) Prizes and winnings;
(10) Pensions; and
(11) Partner's distributive share from the net income of the general professional partnership.

Thus, the pertinent items of gross income when earned by an RC (within and without), NRC (within), RA (within), NRAETB (within) shall be reported and shall form part of their income. Please take note that Tax Code did not distinguish the source of the income. The definition did simply provide for WHATEVER SOURCE. So this means that the income even proceeding from illegal sources like illegal gambling, bribes, kickbacks is still taxable and needs to be reported in the Income Tax Return.


Important points to remember:
Item 1 - Compensation - the designation of the income is immaterial, the employer and employee may call the salary/wage as anything but LOVE is not significant. The same being considered as compensation.

Item 2 - Gross income under this item means Gross Sales less Cost of Sales (for seller of goods) or Gross Receipts less Cost of Service (for seller of service). Of course, after considering the discounts, allowances or returns.

Item 3 - The gains that forms part of the gross income are those earned from the sale or disposition of ordinary assets. The gains from the sale of capital assets are therefore not included because the same are subjected to final tax. Please see Section 39 and Revenue Regulations 7-2003 for reference. My Take shall on Ordinary vs. Capital Assets is somewhere buried elsewhere.

Item 4 - Those interests that were NOT subjected to final tax are part of the gross income. (The interest earned on the "pautang" of the Bumbay from the madalang people is taxable. On the other hand, the interest earned by the Bumbay on his bank deposits are NOT part of the gross income - already subjected to final tax)

Item 5 - Of course, the rents form part of the gross income. In this case, it should be gross rentals less cost, e.g. depreciation, salaries, maintenance, etc.

Item 6-10 - Those income that were not subjected to final tax forms part of the gross income. This is tricky though and you should be analytical and very careful. The status of the taxpayer should be taken into consideration. Example: If AA is a RC (income within and without) receives royalty from abroad, earns interest income from his loan extended to non-residents, and the other income whether or not subjected to final tax if the same is from abroad forms part of the gross income. On the other hand, if such were earned by the NRC, RA, NRAETB, the income therefore are not taxable (since they are taxable only on the income earned within. So in essence, the source should always be considered and who is the taxpayer.

Item 11 - Since the general professional partnership (GPP) as a rule is exempt, the income of the GPP distributed to the partners will be reported by such partners in their separate and distinct capacity. The share therefore of the partners is the Item 11 to be reported in the gross income of each partner.


SECTION 32 (B) - EXCLUSIONS FROM GROSS INCOME (exempt from taxation)(1) Life Insurance. - The proceeds of life insurance policies paid to the heirs or beneficiaries upon the death of the insured, whether in a single sum or otherwise, but if such amounts are held by the insurer under an agreement to pay interest thereon, the interest payments shall be included in gross income.

(2) Amount Received by Insured as Return of Premium. - The amount received by the insured, as a return of premiums paid by him under life insurance, endowment, or annuity contracts, either during the term or at the maturity of the term mentioned in the contract or upon surrender of the contract.

(3) Gifts, Bequests, and Devises. _ The value of property acquired by gift, bequest, devise, or descent: Provided, however, That income from such property, as well as gift, bequest, devise or descent of income from any property, in cases of transfers of divided interest, shall be included in gross income.

(4) Compensation for Injuries or Sickness. - amounts received, through Accident or Health Insurance or under Workmen's Compensation Acts, as compensation for personal injuries or sickness, plus the amounts of any damages received, whether by suit or agreement, on account of such injuries or sickness.

(5) Income Exempt under Treaty. - Income of any kind, to the extent required by any treaty obligation binding upon the Government of the Philippines.

(6) Retirement Benefits, Pensions, Gratuities, etc.-

(a) Retirement benefits received under Republic Act No. 7641 and those received by officials and employees of private firms, whether individual or corporate, in accordance with a reasonable private benefit plan maintained by the employer: Provided, That the retiring official or employee has been in the service of the same employer for at least ten (10) years and is not less than fifty (50) years of age at the time of his retirement: Provided, further, That the benefits granted under this subparagraph shall be availed of by an official or employee only once. For purposes of this Subsection, the term 'reasonable private benefit plan' means a pension, gratuity, stock bonus or profit-sharing plan maintained by an employer for the benefit of some or all of his officials or employees, wherein contributions are made by such employer for the officials or employees, or both, for the purpose of distributing to such officials and employees the earnings and principal of the fund thus accumulated, and wherein its is provided in said plan that at no time shall any part of the corpus or income of the fund be used for, or be diverted to, any purpose other than for the exclusive benefit of the said officials and employees.

(b) Any amount received by an official or employee or by his heirs from the employer as a consequence of separation of such official or employee from the service of the employer because of death sickness or other physical disability or for any cause beyond the control of the said official or employee.

(c) The provisions of any existing law to the contrary notwithstanding, social security benefits, retirement gratuities, pensions and other similar benefits received by resident or nonresident citizens of the Philippines or aliens who come to reside permanently in the Philippines from foreign government agencies and other institutions, private or public.

(d) Payments of benefits due or to become due to any person residing in the Philippines under the laws of the United States administered by the United States Veterans Administration.

(e) Benefits received from or enjoyed under the Social Security System in accordance with the provisions of Republic Act No. 8282.

(f) Benefits received from the GSIS under Republic Act No. 8291, including retirement gratuity received by government officials and employees.


(7)Miscellaneous Items. -

(a) Income Derived by Foreign Government. - Income derived from investments in the Philippines in loans, stocks, bonds or other domestic securities, or from interest on deposits in banks in the Philippines by (i) foreign governments, (ii) financing institutions owned, controlled, or enjoying refinancing from foreign governments, and (iii) international or regional financial institutions established by foreign governments.

(b) Income Derived by the Government or its Political Subdivisions. - Income derived from any public utility or from the exercise of any essential governmental function accruing to the Government of the Philippines or to any political subdivision thereof.

(c) Prizes and Awards. - Prizes and awards made primarily in recognition of religious, charitable, scientific, educational, artistic, literary, or civic achievement but only if:

(i) The recipient was selected without any action on his part to enter the contest or proceeding; and
(ii) The recipient is not required to render substantial future services as a condition to receiving the prize or award.

(d) Prizes and Awards in sports Competition. - All prizes and awards granted to athletes in local and international sports competitions and tournaments whether held in the Philippines or abroad and sanctioned by their national sports associations.

(e) 13th Month Pay and Other Benefits. - Gross benefits received by officials and employees of public and private entities: Provided, however, That the total exclusion under this subparagraph shall not exceed Thirty thousand pesos (P30,000) which shall cover:

(i) Benefits received by officials and employees of the national and local government pursuant to Republic Act No. 6686;
(ii) Benefits received by employees pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 851, as amended by Memorandum Order No. 28, dated August 13, 1986;
(iii) Benefits received by officials and employees not covered by Presidential decree No. 851, as amended by Memorandum Order No. 28, dated August 13, 1986; and
(iv) Other benefits such as productivity incentives and Christmas bonus: Provided, further, That the ceiling of Thirty thousand pesos (P30,000) may be increased through rules and regulations issued by the Secretary of Finance, upon recommendation of the Commissioner, after considering among others, the effect on the same of the inflation rate at the end of the taxable year.

(f) GSIS, SSS, Medicare and Other Contributions. - GSIS, SSS, Medicare and Pag-ibig contributions, and union dues of individuals.

(g) Gains from the Sale of Bonds, Debentures or other Certificate of Indebtedness. - Gains realized from the same or exchange or retirement of bonds, debentures or other certificate of indebtedness with a maturity of more than five (5) years.

(h) Gains from Redemption of Shares in Mutual Fund. - Gains realized by the investor upon redemption of shares of stock in a mutual fund company as defined in Section 22 (BB) of this Code.