Manila: The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has issued a memorandum circular to streamline the documentary requirements for value-added tax (VAT) refund claims under the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises to Maximize Opportunities for Reinvigorating the Economy (CREATE MORE) Act.

According to Philippines News Agency, the BIR announced the issuance of Revenue Memorandum Circular No. 37-2025 on April 10. This circular mandates the submission of certified copies of invoices or receipts for sales and purchases, certified by an authorized official or employee of the corporate claimant, partnership, or sole proprietorship, rather than the original copies.

The BIR highlighted a reduction in three documentary requirements, specifically the proofs of registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission or the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and the copies of Import Entry and Internal Revenue Declarations/Informal Import Declaration and Entry or Single Administrative Document.

For claims involving amortized input taxes from the importation of capital goods filed quarterly, taxpayers can now submit previous certifications from the Bureau of Customs Revenue Accounting Division instead of certified copies, as long as the original certification was submitted during the processing of the previous claim.

For claims covering taxable periods beginning April 1, 2025, which fall under the CREATE MORE Act, the BIR's processing office for VAT refund claims of exporters will verify the export sales of the taxpayer-claimant based on the certification issued by the Export Marketing Bureau (EMB) of the DTI. This measure is intended to prevent overlapping of validation efforts among government agencies.

Documents evidencing the actual export of goods or services are no longer required to be submitted as part of the documentary requirements, as these will be submitted to the EMB for their scrutiny and issuance of a certification.

Additionally, the sale of goods and services under Sections 106(A)(2)(a)(2), 106(A)(2)(a)(5), and 108(B)(1) of the National Internal Revenue Code has reverted from being subject to a 12 percent VAT back to a 0 percent VAT under the CREATE MORE Act, allowing qualified taxpayers to avail of VAT refunds.