Section 34National Internal Revenue Code of 1997 (Republic Act No. 8424), Sec. 34

Deductions from Gross Income. - Except for taxpayers earning compensation income arising from personal services rendered under an employer-employee relationship where no deductions shall be allowed under this Section other than under subsection (M) hereof, in computing taxable income subject to income tax under Sections 24 (A); 25 (A); 26; 27 (A), (B) and (C); and 28 (A) (1), there shall be allowed the following deductions from gross income;

(A) Expenses. -

(1) Ordinary and Necessary Trade, Business or Professional Expenses.-

(a) In General. - There shall be allowed as deduction from gross income all the ordinary and necessary expenses paid or incurred during the taxable year in carrying on or which are directly attributable to, the development, management, operation and/or conduct of the trade, business or exercise of a profession, including:

(i) A reasonable allowance for salaries, wages, and other forms of compensation for personal services actually rendered, including the grossed-up monetary value of fringe benefit furnished or granted by the employer to the employee: Provided, That the final tax imposed under Section 33 hereof has been paid;

(ii) A reasonable allowance for travel expenses, here and abroad, while away from home in the pursuit of trade, business or profession;

(iii) A reasonable allowance for rentals and/or other payments which are required as a condition for the continued use or possession, for purposes of the trade, business or profession, of property to which the taxpayer has not taken or is not taking title or in which he has no equity other than that of a lessee, user or possessor;

(iv) A reasonable allowance for entertainment, amusement and recreation expenses during the taxable year, that are directly connected to the development, management and operation of the trade, business or profession of the taxpayer, or that are directly related to or in furtherance of the conduct of his or its trade, business or exercise of a profession not to exceed such ceilings as the Secretary of Finance may, by rules and regulations prescribe, upon recommendation of the Commissioner, taking into account the needs as well as the special circumstances, nature and character of the industry, trade, business, or profession of the taxpayer: Provided, That any expense incurred for entertainment, amusement or recreation that is contrary to law, morals public policy or public order shall in no case be allowed as a deduction.

(b) Substantiation Requirements. - No deduction from gross income shall be allowed under Subsection (A) hereof unless the taxpayer shall substantiate with sufficient evidence, such as official receipts or other adequate records: (i) the amount of the expense being deducted, and (ii) the direct connection or relation of the expense being deducted to the development, management, operation and/or conduct of the trade, business or profession of the taxpayer.

(c) Bribes, Kickbacks and Other Similar Payments. - No deduction from gross income shall be allowed under Subsection (A) hereof for any payment made, directly or indirectly, to an official or employee of the national government, or to an official or employee of any local government unit, or to an official or employee of a government-owned or -controlled corporation, or to an official or employee or representative of a foreign government, or to a private corporation, general professional partnership, or a similar entity, if the payment constitutes a bribe or kickback.

(2) Expenses Allowable to Private Educational Institutions. - In addition to the expenses allowable as deductions under this Chapter, a private educational institution, referred to under Section 27 (B) of this Code, may at its option elect either: (a) to deduct expenditures otherwise considered as capital outlays of depreciable assets incurred during the taxable year for the expansion of school facilities or (b) to deduct allowance for depreciation thereof under Subsection (F) hereof.

(B) Interest.-

(1) In General. - The amount of interest paid or incurred within a taxable year on indebtedness in connection with the taxpayer's profession, trade or business shall be allowed as deduction from gross income: Provided, however, That the taxpayer's otherwise allowable deduction for interest expense shall be reduced by an amount equal to the following percentages of the interest income subjected to final tax:

Forty-one percent (41%) beginning January 1, 1998;

Thirty-nine percent (39%) beginning January 1, 1999; and

Thirty-eight percent (38%) beginning January 1, 2000;

(2) Exceptions. - No deduction shall be allowed in respect of interest under the succeeding subparagraphs:

(a) If within the taxable year an individual taxpayer reporting income on the cash basis incurs an indebtedness on which an interest is paid in advance through discount or otherwise: Provided, That such interest shall be allowed a a deduction in the year the indebtedness is paid: Provided, further, That if the indebtedness is payable in periodic amortizations, the amount of interest which corresponds to the amount of the principal amortized or paid during the year shall be allowed as deduction in such taxable year;

(b)If both the taxpayer and the person to whom the payment has been made or is to be made are persons specified under Section 36 (B); or

(c)If the indebtedness is incurred to finance petroleum exploration.

(3) Optional Treatment of Interest Expense. - At the option of the taxpayer, interest incurred to acquire property used in trade business or exercise of a profession may be allowed as a deduction or treated as a capital expenditure.

(C) Taxes.-

(1) In General. - Taxes paid or incurred within the taxable year in connection with the taxpayer's profession, trade or business, shall be allowed as deduction, except

(a) The income tax provided for under this Title;

(b) Income taxes imposed by authority of any foreign country; but this deduction shall be allowed in the case of a taxpayer who does not signify in his return his desire to have to any extent the benefits of paragraph (3) of this subsection (relating to credits for taxes of foreign countries);

(c) Estate and donor's taxes; and

(d) Taxes assessed against local benefits of a kind tending to increase the value of the property assessed.

Provided, That taxes allowed under this Subsection, when refunded or credited, shall be included as part of gross income in the year of receipt to the extent of the income tax benefit of said deduction.

(2) Limitations on Deductions. - In the case of a nonresident alien individual engaged in trade or business in the Philippines and a resident foreign corporation, the deductions for taxes provided in paragraph (1) of this Subsection (C) shall be allowed only if and to the extent that they are connected with income from sources within the Philippines.

(3) Credit Against Tax for Taxes of Foreign Countries. - If the taxpayer signifies in his return his desire to have the benefits of this paragraph, the tax imposed by this Title shall be credited with:

(a) Citizen and Domestic Corporation. - In the case of a citizen of the Philippines and of a domestic corporation, the amount of income taxes paid or incurred during the taxable year to any foreign country; and

(b) Partnerships and Estates. - In the case of any such individual who is a member of a general professional partnership or a beneficiary of an estate or trust, his proportionate share of such taxes of the general professional partnership or the estate or trust paid or incurred during the taxable year to a foreign country, if his distributive share of the income of such partnership or trust is reported for taxation under this Title.

An alien individual and a foreign corporation shall not be allowed the credits against the tax for the taxes of foreign countries allowed under this paragraph.

(4) Limitations on Credit. - The amount of the credit taken under this Section shall be subject to each of the following limitations:

(a) The amount of the credit in respect to the tax paid or incurred to any country shall not exceed the same proportion of the tax against which such credit is taken, which the taxpayer's taxable income from sources within such country under this Title bears to his entire taxable income for the same taxable year; and

(b) The total amount of the credit shall not exceed the same proportion of the tax against which such credit is taken, which the taxpayer's taxable income from sources without the Philippines taxable under this Title bears to his entire taxable income for the same taxable year.

(5) Adjustments on Payment of Incurred Taxes. - If accrued taxes when paid differ from the amounts claimed as credits by the taxpayer, or if any tax paid is refunded in whole or in part, the taxpayer shall notify the Commissioner; who shall redetermine the amount of the tax for the year or years affected, and the amount of tax due upon such redetermination, if any, shall be paid by the taxpayer upon notice and demand by the Commissioner, or the amount of tax overpaid, if any, shall be credited or refunded to the taxpayer.

In the case of such a tax incurred but not paid, the Commissioner as a condition precedent to the allowance of this credit may require the taxpayer to give a bond with sureties satisfactory to and to be approved by the Commissioner in such sum as he may require, conditioned upon the payment by the taxpayer of any amount of tax found due upon any such redetermination. The bond herein prescribed shall contain such further conditions as the Commissioner may require.

(6) Year in Which Credit Taken. - The credits provided for in Subsection (C)(3) of this Section may, at the option of the taxpayer and irrespective of the method of accounting employed in keeping his books, be taken in the year which the taxes of the foreign country were incurred, subject, however, to the conditions prescribed in Subsection (C)(5) of this Section. If the taxpayer elects to take such credits in the year in which the taxes of the foreign country accrued, the credits for all subsequent years shall be taken upon the same basis and no portion of any such taxes shall be allowed as a deduction in the same or any succeeding year.

(7) Proof of Credits. - The credits provided in Subsection (C)(3) hereof shall be allowed only if the taxpayer establishes to the satisfaction of the Commissioner the following:

(a) The total amount of income derived from sources without the Philippines;

(b) The amount of income derived from each country, the tax paid or incurred to which is claimed as a credit under said paragraph, such amount to be determined under rules and regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Finance; and

(c) All other information necessary for the verification and computation of such credits.

(D) Losses. -

(1) In General. - Losses actually sustained during the taxable year and not compensated for by insurance or other forms of indemnity shall be allowed as deductions:

(a) If incurred in trade, profession or business;

(b) Of property connected with the trade, business or profession, if the loss arises from fires, storms, shipwreck, or other casualties, or from robbery, theft or embezzlement.

The Secretary of Finance, upon recommendation of the Commissioner, is hereby authorized to promulgate rules and regulations prescribing, among other things, the time and manner by which the taxpayer shall submit a declaration of loss sustained from casualty or from robbery, theft or embezzlement during the taxable year: Provided, however, That the time limit to be so prescribed in the rules and regulations shall not be less than thirty (30) days nor more than ninety (90) days from the date of discovery of the casualty or robbery, theft or embezzlement giving rise to the loss.

(c) No loss shall be allowed as a deduction under this Subsection if at the time of the filing of the return, such loss has been claimed as a deduction for estate tax purposes in the estate tax return.

(2) Proof of Loss. - In the case of a nonresident alien individual or foreign corporation, the losses deductible shall be those actually sustained during the year incurred in business, trade or exercise of a profession conducted within the Philippines, when such losses are not compensated for by insurance or other forms of indemnity.

The secretary of Finance, upon recommendation of the Commissioner, is hereby authorized to promulgate rules and regulations prescribing, among other things, the time and manner by which the taxpayer shall submit a declaration of loss sustained from casualty or from robbery, theft or embezzlement during the taxable year: Provided, That the time to be so prescribed in the rules and regulations shall not be less than thirty (30) days nor more than ninety (90) days from the date of discovery of the casualty or robbery, theft or embezzlement giving rise to the loss; and

(3) Net Operating Loss Carry-Over. - The net operating loss of the business or enterprise for any taxable year immediately preceding the current taxable year, which had not been previously offset as deduction from gross income shall be carried over as a deduction from gross income for the next three (3) consecutive taxable years immediately following the year of such loss: Provided, however, That any net loss incurred in a taxable year during which the taxpayer was exempt from income tax shall not be allowed as a deduction under this Subsection: Provided, further, That a net operating loss carry-over shall be allowed only if there has been no substantial change in the ownership of the business or enterprise in that -

(i) Not less than seventy-five percent (75%) in nominal value of outstanding issued shares., if the business is in the name of a corporation, is held by or on behalf of the same persons; or

(ii) Not less than seventy-five percent (75%) of the paid up capital of the corporation, if the business is in the name of a corporation, is held by or on behalf of the same persons.

"For purposes of this subsection, the term 'not operating loss' shall mean the excess of allowable deduction over gross income of the business in a taxable year.

Provided, That for mines other than oil and gas wells, a net operating loss without the benefit of incentives provided for under Executive Order No. 226, as amended, otherwise known as the Omnibus Investments Code of 1987, incurred in any of the first ten (10) years of operation may be carried over as a deduction from taxable income for the next five (5) years immediately following the year of such loss. The entire amount of the loss shall be carried over to the first of the five (5) taxable years following the loss, and any portion of such loss which exceeds, the taxable income of such first year shall be deducted in like manner form the taxable income of the next remaining four (4) years.

(4) Capital Losses. -

(a) Limitation. - Loss from sales or Exchanges of capital assets shall be allowed only to the extent provided in Section 39.

(b) Securities Becoming worthless. - If securities as defined in Section 22 (T) become worthless during the taxable year and are capital assets, the loss resulting therefrom shall, for purposes of this Title, be considered as a loss from the sale or exchange, on the last day of such taxable year, of capital assets.

(5) Losses From Wash Sales of Stock or Securities. - Losses from 'wash sales' of stock or securities as provided in Section 38.

(6) Wagering Losses. - Losses from wagering transactions shall b allowed only to the extent of the gains from such transactions.

(7) Abandonment Losses. -

(a) In the event a contract area where petroleum operations are undertaken is partially or wholly abandoned, all accumulated exploration and development expenditures pertaining thereto shall be allowed as a deduction: Provided, That accumulated expenditures incurred in that area prior to January 1, 1979 shall be allowed as a deduction only from any income derived from the same contract area. In all cases, notices of abandonment shall be filed with the Commissioner.

(b) In case a producing well is subsequently abandoned, the unamortized costs thereof, as well as the undepreciated costs of equipment directly used therein , shall be allowed as a deduction in the year such well, equipment or facility is abandoned by the contractor: Provided, That if such abandoned well is reentered and production is resumed, or if such equipment or facility is restored into service, the said costs shall be included as part of gross income in the year of resumption or restoration and shall be amortized or depreciated, as the case may be.

(E) Bad Debts. -

(1) In General. - Debts due to the taxpayer actually ascertained to be worthless and charged off within the taxable year except those not connected with profession, trade or business and those sustained in a transaction entered into between parties mentioned under Section 36 (B) of this Code: Provided, That recovery of bad debts previously allowed as deduction in the preceding years shall be included as part of the gross income in the year of recovery to the extent of the income tax benefit of said deduction.

(2) Securities Becoming Worthless. - If securities, as defined in Section 22 (T), are ascertained to be worthless and charged off within the taxable year and are capital assets, the loss resulting therefrom shall, in the case of a taxpayer other than a bank or trust company incorporated under the laws of the Philippines a substantial part of whose business is the receipt of deposits, for the purpose of this Title, be considered as a loss from the sale or exchange, on the last day of such taxable year, of capital assets.

(F) Depreciation. -

(1) General Rule. - There shall be allowed as a depreciation deduction a reasonable allowance for the exhaustion, wear and tear (including reasonable allowance for obsolescence) of property used in the trade or business. In the case of property held by one person for life with remainder to another person, the deduction shall be computed as if the life tenant were the absolute owner of the property and shall be allowed to the life tenant. In the case of property held in trust, the allowable deduction shall be apportioned between the income beneficiaries and the trustees in accordance with the pertinent provisions of the instrument creating the trust, or in the absence of such provisions, on the basis of the trust income allowable to each.

(2) Use of Certain Methods and Rates. - The term 'reasonable allowance' as used in the preceding paragraph shall include, but not limited to, an allowance computed in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Finance, upon recommendation of the Commissioner, under any of the following methods:

(a) The straight-line method;

(b) Declining-balance method, using a rate not exceeding twice the rate which would have been used had the annual allowance been computed under the method described in Subsection (F) (1);

(c) The sum-of-the-years-digit method; and

(d) any other method which may be prescribed by the Secretary of Finance upon recommendation of the Commissioner.

(3) Agreement as to Useful Life on Which Depreciation Rate is Based. - Where under rules and regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Finance upon recommendation of the Commissioner, the taxpayer and the Commissioner have entered into an agreement in writing specifically dealing with the useful life and rate of depreciation of any property, the rate so agreed upon shall be binding on both the taxpayer and the national Government in the absence of facts and circumstances not taken into consideration during the adoption of such agreement. The responsibility of establishing the existence of such facts and circumstances shall rest with the party initiating the modification.

Any change in the agreed rate and useful life of the depreciable property as specified in the agreement shall not be effective for taxable years prior to the taxable year in which notice in writing by certified mail or registered mail is served by the party initiating such change to the other party to the agreement:

Provided, however, that where the taxpayer has adopted such useful life and depreciation rate for any depreciable and claimed the depreciation expenses as deduction from his gross income, without any written objection on the part of the Commissioner or his duly authorized representatives, the aforesaid useful life and depreciation rate so adopted by the taxpayer for the aforesaid depreciable asset shall be considered binding for purposes of this Subsection.

(4) Depreciation of Properties Used in Petroleum Operations. - An allowance for depreciation in respect of all properties directly related to production of petroleum initially placed in service in a taxable year shall be allowed under the straight-line or declining-balance method of depreciation at the option of the service contractor.

However, if the service contractor initially elects the declining-balance method, it may at any subsequent date, shift to the straight-line method.

The useful life of properties used in or related to production of petroleum shall be ten (10) years of such shorter life as may be permitted by the Commissioner.

Properties not used directly in the production of petroleum shall be depreciated under the straight-line method on the basis of an estimated useful life of five (5) years.

(5) Depreciation of Properties Used in Mining Operations. - an allowance for depreciation in respect of all properties used in mining operations other than petroleum operations, shall be computed as follows:

(a) At the normal rate of depreciation if the expected life is ten (10) years or less; or

(b) Depreciated over any number of years between five (5) years and the expected life if the latter is more than ten (10) years, and the depreciation thereon allowed as deduction from taxable income: Provided, That the contractor notifies the Commissioner at the beginning of the depreciation period which depreciation rate allowed by this Section will be used.

(6) Depreciation Deductible by Nonresident Aliens Engaged in Trade or Business or Resident Foreign Corporations. - In the case of a nonresident alien individual engaged in trade or business or resident foreign corporation, a reasonable allowance for the deterioration of Property arising out of its use or employment or its non-use in the business trade or profession shall be permitted only when such property is located in the Philippines.

(G) Depletion of Oil and Gas Wells and Mines. -

(1) In General. - In the case of oil and gas wells or mines, a reasonable allowance for depletion or amortization computed in accordance with the cost-depletion method shall be granted under rules and regulations to be prescribed by the Secretary of finance, upon recommendation of the Commissioner.

Provided, That when the allowance for depletion shall equal the capital invested no further allowance shall be granted: Provided, further, That after production in commercial quantities has commenced, certain intangible exploration and development drilling costs: (a) shall be deductible in the year incurred if such expenditures are incurred for non-producing wells and/or mines, or (b) shall be deductible in full in the year paid or incurred or at the election of the taxpayer, may be capitalized and amortized if such expenditures incurred are for producing wells and/or mines in the same contract area.

'Intangible costs in petroleum operations' refers to any cost incurred in petroleum operations which in itself has no salvage value and which is incidental to and necessary for the drilling of wells and preparation of wells for the production of petroleum: Provided, That said costs shall not pertain to the acquisition or improvement of property of a character subject to the allowance for depreciation except that the allowances for depreciation on such property shall be deductible under this Subsection.

Any intangible exploration, drilling and development expenses allowed as a deduction in computing taxable income during the year shall not be taken into consideration in computing the adjusted cost basis for the purpose of computing allowable cost depletion.

(2) Election to Deduct Exploration and Development Expenditures. - In computing taxable income from mining operations, the taxpayer may at his option, deduct exploration and development expenditures accumulated as cost or adjusted basis for cost depletion as of date of prospecting, as well as exploration and development expenditures paid or incurred during the taxable year: Provided, That the amount deductible for exploration and development expenditures shall not exceed twenty-five percent (25%) of the net income from mining operations computed without the benefit of any tax incentives under existing laws. The actual exploration and development expenditures minus twenty-five percent (25%) of the net income from mining shall be carried forward to the succeeding years until fully deducted.

The election by the taxpayer to deduct the exploration and development expenditures is irrevocable and shall be binding in succeeding taxable years.

'Net income from mining operations', as used in this Subsection, shall mean gross income from operations less 'allowable deductions' which are necessary or related to mining operations. 'Allowable deductions' shall include mining, milling and marketing expenses, and depreciation of properties directly used in the mining operations. This paragraph shall not apply to expenditures for the acquisition or improvement of property of a character which is subject to the allowance for depreciation.

In no case shall this paragraph apply with respect to amounts paid or incurred for the exploration and development of oil and gas.

The term 'exploration expenditures' means expenditures paid or incurred for the purpose of ascertaining the existence, location, extent or quality of any deposit of ore or other mineral, and paid or incurred before the beginning of the development stage of the mine or deposit.

The term 'development expenditures' means expenditures paid or incurred during the development stage of the mine or other natural deposits. The development stage of a mine or other natural deposit shall begin at the time when deposits of ore or other minerals are shown to exist in sufficient commercial quantity and quality and shall end upon commencement of actual commercial extraction.

(3) Depletion of Oil and Gas Wells and Mines Deductible by a Nonresident Alien individual or Foreign Corporation. - In the case of a nonresident alien individual engaged in trade or business in the Philippines or a resident foreign corporation, allowance for depletion of oil and gas wells or mines under paragraph (1) of this Subsection shall be authorized only in respect to oil and gas wells or mines located within the Philippines.

(H) Charitable and Other Contributions. -

(1) In General. - Contributions or gifts actually paid or made within the taxable year to, or for the use of the Government of the Philippines or any of its agencies or any political subdivision thereof exclusively for public purposes, or to accredited domestic corporation or associations organized and operated exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific, youth and sports development, cultural or educational purposes or for the rehabilitation of veterans, or to social welfare institutions, or to non-government organizations, in accordance with rules and regulations promulgated by the Secretary of finance, upon recommendation of the Commissioner, no part of the net income of which inures to the benefit of any private stockholder or individual in an amount not in excess of ten percent (10%) in the case of an individual, and five percent (5%) in the case of a corporation, of the taxpayer's taxable income derived from trade, business or profession as computed without the benefit of this and the following subparagraphs.

(2) Contributions Deductible in Full. - Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding subparagraph, donations to the following institutions or entities shall be deductible in full;

(a) Donations to the Government. - Donations to the Government of the Philippines or to any of its agencies or political subdivisions, including fully-owned government corporations, exclusively to finance, to provide for, or to be used in undertaking priority activities in education, health, youth and sports development, human settlements, science and culture, and in economic development according to a National Priority Plan determined by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), In consultation with appropriate government agencies, including its regional development councils and private philantrophic persons and institutions: Provided, That any donation which is made to the Government or to any of its agencies or political subdivisions not in accordance with the said annual priority plan shall be subject to the limitations prescribed in paragraph (1) of this Subsection;

(b) Donations to Certain Foreign Institutions or International Organizations. - donations to foreign institutions or international organizations which are fully deductible in pursuance of or in compliance with agreements, treaties, or commitments entered into by the Government of the Philippines and the foreign institutions or international organizations or in pursuance of special laws;

(c) Donations to Accredited Nongovernment Organizations. - the term 'nongovernment organization' means a non profit domestic corporation:

(1) Organized and operated exclusively for scientific, research, educational, character-building and youth and sports development, health, social welfare, cultural or charitable purposes, or a combination thereof, no part of the net income of which inures to the benefit of any private individual;

(2) Which, not later than the 15th day of the third month after the close of the accredited nongovernment organizations taxable year in which contributions are received, makes utilization directly for the active conduct of the activities constituting the purpose or function for which it is organized and operated, unless an extended period is granted by the Secretary of Finance in accordance with the rules and regulations to be promulgated, upon recommendation of the Commissioner;

(3) The level of administrative expense of which shall, on an annual basis, conform with the rules and regulations to be prescribed by the Secretary of Finance, upon recommendation of the Commissioner, but in no case to exceed thirty percent (30%) of the total expenses; and

(4) The assets of which, in the even of dissolution, would be distributed to another nonprofit domestic corporation organized for similar purpose or purposes, or to the state for public purpose, or would be distributed by a court to another organization to be used in such manner as in the judgment of said court shall best accomplish the general purpose for which the dissolved organization was organized.

Subject to such terms and conditions as may be prescribed by the Secretary of Finance, the term 'utilization' means:

(i) Any amount in cash or in kind (including administrative expenses) paid or utilized to accomplish one or more purposes for which the accredited nongovernment organization was created or organized.

(ii) Any amount paid to acquire an asset used (or held for use) directly in carrying out one or more purposes for which the accredited nongovernment organization was created or organized.

An amount set aside for a specific project which comes within one or more purposes of the accredited nongovernment organization may be treated as a utilization, but only if at the time such amount is set aside, the accredited nongovernment organization has established to the satisfaction of the Commissioner that the amount will be paid for the specific project within a period to be prescribed in rules and regulations to be promulgated by the Secretary of Finance, upon recommendation of the Commissioner, but not to exceed five (5) years, and the project is one which can be better accomplished by setting aside such amount than by immediate payment of funds.

(3) Valuation. - The amount of any charitable contribution of property other than money shall be based on the acquisition cost of said property.

(4) Proof of Deductions. - Contributions or gifts shall be allowable as deductions only if verified under the rules and regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Finance, upon recommendation of the Commissioner.

(I) Research and Development.-

(1) In General. - a taxpayer may treat research or development expenditures which are paid or incurred by him during the taxable year in connection with his trade, business or profession as ordinary and necessary expenses which are not chargeable to capital account. The expenditures so treated shall be allowed as deduction during the taxable year when paid or incurred.

(2) Amortization of Certain Research and Development Expenditures. - At the election of the taxpayer and in accordance with the rules and regulations to be prescribed by the Secretary of Finance, upon recommendation of the Commissioner, the following research and development expenditures may be treated as deferred expenses:

(a) Paid or incurred by the taxpayer in connection with his trade, business or profession;

(b) Not treated as expenses under paragraph 91) hereof; and

(c) Chargeable to capital account but not chargeable to property of a character which is subject to depreciation or depletion.

In computing taxable income, such deferred expenses shall be allowed as deduction ratably distributed over a period of not less than sixty (60) months as may be elected by the taxpayer (beginning with the month in which the taxpayer first realizes benefits from such expenditures).

The election provided by paragraph (2) hereof may be made for any taxable year beginning after the effectivity of this Code, but only if made not later than the time prescribed by law for filing the return for such taxable year. The method so elected, and the period selected by the taxpayer, shall be adhered to in computing taxable income for the taxable year for which the election is made and for all subsequent taxable years unless with the approval of the Commissioner, a change to a different method is authorized with respect to a part or all of such expenditures. The election shall not apply to any expenditure paid or incurred during any taxable year for which the taxpayer makes the election.

(3) Limitations on deduction. - This Subsection shall not apply to:

(a) Any expenditure for the acquisition or improvement of land, or for the improvement of property to be used in connection with research and development of a character which is subject to depreciation and depletion; and

(b) Any expenditure paid or incurred for the purpose of ascertaining the existence, location, extent, or quality of any deposit of ore or other mineral, including oil or gas.

(J) Pension Trusts. - An employer establishing or maintaining a pension trust to provide for the payment of reasonable pensions to his employees shall be allowed as a deduction (in addition to the contributions to such trust during the taxable year to cover the pension liability accruing during the year, allowed as a deduction under Subsection (A) (1) of this Section ) a reasonable amount transferred or paid into such trust during the taxable year in excess of such contributions, but only if such amount (1)has not theretofore been allowed as a deduction, and (2) is apportioned in equal parts over a period of ten (10) consecutive years beginning with the year in which the transfer or payment is made.

(K) Additional Requirements for Deductibility of Certain Payments. - Any amount paid or payable which is otherwise deductible from, or taken into account in computing gross income or for which depreciation or amortization may be allowed under this Section, shall be allowed as a deduction only if it is shown that the tax required to be deducted and withheld therefrom has been paid to the Bureau of Internal Revenue in accordance with this Section 58 and 81 of this Code.

(L) Optional Standard Deduction. - In lieu of the deductions allowed under the preceding Subsections, an individual subject to tax under Section 24, other than a nonresident alien, may elect a standard deduction in an amount not exceeding ten percent (10%) of his gross income. Unless the taxpayer signifies in his return his intention to elect the optional standard deduction, he shall be considered as having availed himself of the deductions allowed in the preceding Subsections.

Such election when made in the return shall be irrevocable for the taxable year for which the return is made: Provided, That an individual who is entitled to and claimed for the optional standard deduction shall not be required to submit with his tax return such financial statements otherwise required under this Code: Provided, further, That except when the Commissioner otherwise permits, the said individual shall keep such records pertaining to his gross income during the taxable year, as may be required by the rules and regulations promulgated by the Secretary of Finance, upon recommendation of the Commissioner.

(M) Premium Payments on Health and/or Hospitalization Insurance of an Individual Taxpayer. - the amount of premiums not to exceed Two thousand four hundred pesos (P2,400) per family or Two hundred pesos (P200) a month paid during the taxable year for health and/or hospitalization insurance taken by the taxpayer for himself, including his family, shall be allowed as a deduction from his gross income: Provided, That said family has a gross income of not more than Two hundred fifty thousand pesos (P250,000) for the taxable year: Provided, finally, That in the case of married taxpayers, only the spouse claiming the additional exemption for dependents shall be entitled to this deduction.

Notwithstanding the provision of the preceding Subsections, The Secretary of Finance, upon recommendation of the Commissioner, after a public hearing shall have been held for this purpose, may prescribe by rules and regulations, limitations or ceilings for any of the itemized deductions under Subsections (A) to (J) of this Section: Provided, That for purposes of determining such ceilings or limitations, the Secretary of Finance shall consider the following factors: (1) adequacy of the prescribed limits on the actual expenditure requirements of each particular industry; and (2)effects of inflation on expenditure levels: Provided, further, That no ceilings shall further be imposed on items of expense already subject to ceilings under present law.