CIR v. PINEDA - No. L-22734. September 15, 1967
CIR v. PINEDA - No. L-22734. September 15, 1967
21, SEPTEMBER 15, 1967 105 After the estate proceedings were closed, the Bureau of Internal
Revenue investigated the income tax liability of the estate for the years
Commissioner of Internal Revenue vs. Pineda
1945, 1946, 1947 and 1948 and it found that the corresponding income tax
No. L-22734. September 15, 1967. returns were not filed. Thereupon, the representative of the Collector of
COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, petitioner, vs.MANUEL Internal Revenue filed said returns for the estate on the basis of
B. PINEDA, as one of the heirs of deceased ATANASIO PINEDA, information and data obtained from the aforesaid estate proceedings and
respondent. issued an assessment for the following:
Taxation; Income tax; Liability of an heir for tax.—An heir is liable for the
1. Deficiency income tax
assessment as an heir and as a holder-transferee of property belonging to the 1945 P 135.83
estate/taxpayer. As an heir, he is individually answerable for the part of the tax 1946 436.95
proportionate to the share he received from the inheritance. His liability, however,
cannot exceed the amount of his share (Art. 1311, Civil Code). As a holder of the
1947 1,206.91 P1,779.69
property belonging to the estate, he is liable for the tax up to the amount of the Add: 5% surcharge 88.98
property in his possession. The reason is that the Government has a lien on such 1% monthly interest 720.77
property. But after payment of such amount, he will have a right to contribution
from his co-heirs.
from November 30,
1953 to April 15, 1957
Same; Ways available to government to collect the tax.—The Government has Compromise for late 80.00
two ways of collecting the taxes in question. One, by going after all the heirs and
collecting from each one of them the amount of the tax proportionate to the
filing
inheritance received, Another remedy, pursuant to the lien created by Section 315 Compromise for late 40.00
of the Tax Code upon all property and rights to property belong to the taxpayer for payment
unpaid income tax, is by subjecting said property of the estate which is in the
hands of an heir or transferee to the payment of the tax due the estate.
Total amount due P2,707.44
2. Additional residence tax for 14.50
Same; Taxes are the lifeblood of the government.—Taxes are the lifeblood of 1945
government and their prompt and certain availability is an imperious need.
3. Real Estate dealer’s tax for 207.50
APPEAL from a decision of the Court of Tax Appeals. the fourth quarter of
1946 and the whole year of 1947
The facts are stated in the opinion of the Court. Manuel B. Pineda, who received the assessment, contested the same.
Subsequently, he appealed to the Court of Tax Appeals alleging that he
Solicitor General for petitioner. was appealing “only that proportionate part or portion pertaining to him
Manuel B. Pineda for and in his own behalf as respondent. as one of the heirs.”
BENGZON, J.P., J.: After hearing the parties, the Court of Tax Appeals rendered judgment
reversing the decision of the Commissioner on the ground that his right to
On May 23, 1945 Atanasio Pineda died, survived by his wife, Felicisima assess and collect the tax has prescribed. The Commissioner appealed and
Bagtas, and 15 children, the eldest of whom is Manuel B. Pineda, a lawyer. this Court affirmed the findings of the Tax Court in respect to the
Estate proceedings were had in the Court of First Instance of Manila (Case assessment for income tax for the year 1947 but held that the right to
No. 71129) wherein the surviving widow was appointed administratrix. assess and collect the taxes for 1945 and 1946 has not prescribed. For 1945
The estate was divided among and awarded to the heirs and the and 1946 the returns were filed on August 24, 1953; assessments for both
proceedings terminated on June 8, 1948. Manuel B. Pineda’s share taxable years were made within five years therefrom or on October 19,
amounted to about P2,-500.00. 1953; and the action to collect the tax was filed within five years from the
latter date, on August 7, 1957. For taxable year 1947, however, the return
was filed on March 1, 1948; the assessment was made on October 19, 1953,
more than five years from the date the return was filed; hence, the right said estate is liable, pursuant to the last paragraph of Section 315 of the
to assess income tax for 1947 had prescribed. Accordingly, We remanded Tax Code, which we quote hereunder:
the case to the Tax Court for further appropriate proceedings. 1
heir he is liable for unpaid income tax due the estate only up to the extent against all the heirs the tax due from the estate is levied proportionately
of and in proportion to any share he received. He relies on Government of against them is to achieve thereby two results: first, payment of the tax;
the Philippine Islands v. Pamintuan where We held that “after the
2
and second, adjustment of the shares of each heir in the distributed
partition of an estate, heirs and distributees are liable individually for the estate as lessened by the tax.
payment of all lawful outstanding claims against the estate in proportion
to the amount or value of the property they have respectively received from Another remedy, pursuant to the lien created by Section 315 of the Tax
the estate.” Code upon all property and rights to property belonging to the taxpayer
for unpaid income tax, is by subjecting said property of the estate which is
We hold that the Government can require Manuel B. Pineda to pay the in the hands of an heir or transferee to the payment of the tax due, the
full amount of the taxes assessed. Pineda is liable for the assessment as estate. This second remedy is the very avenue the Government took in this
an heir and as a holder-transferee of property belonging to the estate/ case to collect the tax. The Bureau of Internal Revenue should be given, in
taxpayer. As an heir he is individually answerable for the part of the tax instances like the case at bar, the necessary discretion to avail itself of the
proportionate to the share he received from the inheritance. His liability,3
most expeditious way to collect the tax as may be envisioned in the
however, cannot exceed the amount of his share. 4
particular provision of the Tax Code above quoted, because taxes are the
lifeblood of government and their prompt and certain availability is an
As a holder of property belonging to the estate, Pineda is liable for the imperious need. And as afore-stated in this case the suit seeks to achieve
7
tax up to the amount of the property in his possession. The reason is that only one objective: payment of the tax. The adjustment of the respective
the Government has a lien on the P2,500.00 received by him from the shares due to the heirs from the inheritance, as lessened by the tax, is left
estate as his share in the inheritance, for unpaid income taxes for which 4a
to await the suit for contribution by the heir from whom the Government
recovered said tax.
WHEREFORE, the decision appealed from is modified. Manuel B.
Pineda is hereby ordered to pay to the Commissioner of Internal Revenue
the sum of P760.28 as deficiency income tax for 1945 and 1946, and real
estate dealer’s fixed tax for the fourth quarter of 1946 and for the whole
year 1947, without prejudice to his right of contribution for his co-heirs.
No costs. So ordered.
.
Decision modified.