Updated policies for Monthly Documentary Stamp Tax in the Philippines

In light of the new version of the Monthly DST Declaration/Return (BIR Form No. 2000 version January 2018) which is available in the electronic Filing and Payment System (eFPS) portal and eBIR form package of the BIR, the Revenue Circular Memorandum (RMC) 48-2024 was issued to provide policies and procedures in the proper manner of accomplishing the said version of DST return.

The RMC then reiterated the three (3) different methods of collecting DST:

1. Electronic Documentary Stamp Tax (eDST) System;
2. Constructive Affixture;
3. Purchase of loose documentary stamps;

Updated Policies and Procedures of the eDST System 

The RMC states that all concerned Taxpayers must adhere to the following policies and procedures when filing the DST return:

A.) Updated eDST Policies

1. All mandated taxpayers-users of the eDST System are required to use the electronic Filing and Payment System (eFPs) in the filing of the DST declaration/return and payment of the corresponding DST.
2. The DST declaration/return must be accomplished separately for the payment of advance deposits and for the declaration of the total DST due from all taxable documents that were made, signed, accepted or transferred during the month.
3. Advance deposits, regardless of its number of frequencies, may be paid at any time to maintain a sufficient balance that will cover the total tax due from all taxable documents at any given period, provided that these taxable documents were made, signed, accepted or transferred before the close of the month.
4. The DST declaration/return which is accomplished for purposes of declaring the monthly DST dues shall be filed only once but not later than five (5) days after the close of the month when the taxable documents were made, signed, accepted or transferred

B.) New eDST Procedures

1. Filing of Advance Payment for Crediting to the eDST System:
   1. Accomplish the fields for the necessary basic information found in items 1-12 of the BIR Form No. 2000;
   2. Click the box for the “eDST System” in item 13 “Mode of Affixture” 
   3.  Fill out the table under Schedule 3 – “Summary of DST Payments/Purchases for the Month
      1. Under the columnar heading “Payment Date/s”, indicate the intended actual date of payment of the advance deposit; 
      2. Under the columnar heading “Payment Reference No./Official Receipt”, indicate the phrase “For Payment,”; and
      3. Under the columnar heading “Amount Paid”, indicate the intended amount of advance deposit. 
   4. Validate the return, submit the transaction, and proceed to payment. 
      • Note that when accomplishing a subsequent DST declaration/return for advance deposit purposes, click the corresponding box for “NO” in item 2 “Amended Return” and, in item 15A “Balance Carried Over from Previous Return”, change the field to zero (0.00) before proceeding to Step “a” to “d” as enumerated above. 
      • Please see the completed illustration of the procedures in “Annex A”. 
2. Declaration of the Monthly DST dues:
   1. Accomplish the fields for the necessary basic information in Items 1-12; 
   2. Click the box for “eDST System” in Item 13 “Mode of Affixture”;
   3. Indicate the amount in Item 15A – Balance Carried Over from Previous Return; 
   4. Fill out the table under Schedule 1 – Summary of Computation of Taxes Due for Month”:
      • Note that the total tax is automatically computed and forwarded to Item 14 “Tax Due for the Month”.
   5. Accomplish the table under Schedule – 3 Summary of DST Payments/Purchases for the Month in cases there are underdeclared advance payments that should cover the DST dues for the month; 
      • Note that total of these advance payments will be automatically computed and forwarded to Item 15C Advance Payment during the month and Item 16 Net Tax Payable (Overpayment) /(Balance to be carried over to the Next Return) will be automatically populated, as well as item 18 Total Amount Payable (Overpayment)/(Balance to be carried over the next return). 
   6. Validate the return and submit the transaction; 
      Note that please see the completed illustration of the procedures in “Annex B

Updated Policies and Procedures for Constructive Affixture

A.) Constructive Affixture Policies

• The mode of Constructive Affixture applies to private taxpayers, including eDST-mandated taxpayers in case of unavailability of the eDST System, government agencies (GAs), local government units (LGUs) and other instrumentalities, whether thru manual filing or online
• Under Revenue Memorandum Circular (RMC) No. 100-2023 and the Revised Cash Examination Manual Chapter Il – Laws and Rules Relevant in Cash Examination issued by the Commission on Audit, all GAs, LGUs, and other instrumentalities shall remit their collections from the sale of documentary stamps at least once a week, or as soon as their collection reaches the amount of Ten Thousand Pesos (₱10,000.00). Further, regardless of the frequency of remittances, these taxpayers shall file a single tax return not later than the fifth day following the calendar month.

B.) Constructive Affixture Procedures

1.) Accomplish the fields for the necessary basic information in Items 1-12;

2.) Click the box for “eDST System” in Item 13 “Mode of Affixture”;

3.) Fill out the table under Schedule 1 – Summary of Computation of Taxes Due for Month”; Note that the total tax is automatically computed and forwarded to Item 14 “Tax Due for the Month”.

4.) For the GAs/LGUs and Other Instrumentalities, must complete the table under ‘Schedule – 4 Summary of Remittance from Collection on Sale of Loose Documentary Stamps, following RMC No. 100-2023, as follows:

5.) Validate the return, submit the transaction, and continue to payment if applicable.
      Note that a full illustration of the procedure can be found “Annex C” of this RMC.
 

Updated Policies and Procedures for Loose Documentary Stamps  

A.) Loose Documentary Stamp Policies

The Bureau states that when using this method of DST collection, the BIR Form No. 2000 version 2018 shall be accomplished ONLY by all concerned Special Revenue Collecting Officers (SRCOs)/Revenue Collection Officers (RCOs) of the Bureau, using the Tax Identification Number

(TIN) of the concerned RDO, who are duly authorized to sell loose documentary stamps and remit its proceeds to the Authorized Government Depository Bank within five (5) days after the close of each week, following existing revenue issuances.

B.) Loose Documentary Stamp Procedures

1. Accomplish the fields for the necessary basic information in Items 1-12;
2. Click the box for “eDST System” in Item 13 “Mode of Affixture”;
3. Fill out the table under Schedule 1 – Summary of Computation of Taxes Due for Month”;
   Note that the total tax is automatically computed and forwarded to Item 14 “Tax Due for the Month”.
4. Validate the return and submit the transaction; 
   It should be noted that a full illustration of the procedure can be accessed in ‘Annex D’ of the RMC
    

Clarifying the deadline for Filing of Documentary Stamp Tax Return and Payment of the Corresponding Taxes

The Bureau recently issued RMC No. 67-2024.pdf (bir.gov.ph) clarifying the deadline of filing and payment of the DST return considering the provision previously mentioned in the “Ease of Paying Taxes Act” (EOPT Law).

Since the EOPT Law did not introduce any amendment to the deadline for filing of DST return and payment of DST, the current rule under RR No. 6-2001 which was prescribed by the Secretary of Finance, shall apply. Hence, the DST return shall still be filed within FIVE (5) DAYS after the close of the month when the taxable document was made, signed, accepted, or transferred, and the tax thereon shall be paid at the same time the DST return is filed.

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