CIR Vs Lincoln

3/8/2017 SUPREMECOURTREPORTSANNOTATEDVOLUME379
VOL. 379, MARCH 19, 2002 423

Commissioner of Internal Revenue vs. Lincoln Philippine
Life Insurance Company, Inc.
*
G.R. No. 119176. March 19, 2002.
COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, petitioner,

vs. LINCOLN PHILIPPINE LIFE INSURANCE
COMPANY, INC. (now JARDINECMA LIFE
INSURANCE COMPANY, INC.) and THE COURT OF
APPEALS, respondents.
Insurance Any rider, clause, warranty or endorsement pasted

or attached to the policy is considered part of such policy or
contract of insurance.Section 49, Title VI of the Insurance Code
defines an insurance policy as the written instrument in which a
contract of insurance is set forth. Section 50 of the same Code
provides that the policy, which is required to be in printed form,
may contain any word, phrase, clause, mark, sign, symbol,
signature, number, or word necessary to complete the contract of
insurance. It is thus clear that any rider, clause, warranty or
endorsement pasted or attached to the policy is considered part of
such policy or contract of insurance.
Same Taxation Documentary Stamp Taxes The payment of
documentary stamp taxes is done at the time the act is done or
transaction had and the tax base for the computation of
documentary stamp taxes on life insurance policies under Section
183 of the Insurance Code is the amount fixed in policy, unless the
interest of a person insured is susceptible of exact pecuniary
measurement The amount fixed in the policy is the figure written
on its face and whatever increases will take effect in the future by
reason of any automatic increase clause embodied in the policy
without the need of another contract.The subject insurance
policy at the time it was issued contained an automatic increase
clause. Although the clause was to take effect only in 1984, it was
written into the policy at the time of its issuance. The distinctive
feature of the junior estate builder policy called the automatic
increase clause already formed part and parcel of the insurance
contract, hence, there was no need for an execution of a separate
agreement for the increase in the coverage that took effect in 1984
http://central.com.ph/sfsreader/session/0000015aad916a5122325aae003600fb002c009e/t/?o=False 1/11
when the assured reached a certain age. It is clear from Section

173 that the payment of documentary stamp taxes is done at the
time the act is done or transaction had and the tax base for the
computation of documentary stamp taxes on life insurance
policies under Section 183 is the amount fixed in policy, unless
the interest of a person insured is susceptible of exact pecuniary
measurement. What then is the amount fixed in the policy?
Logically, we believe that the amount fixed in the policy is the
figure
______________
* FIRST DIVISION.
424
424 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED
Commissioner of Internal Revenue vs. Lincoln Philippine Life

Insurance Company, Inc.
written on its face and whatever increases will take effect in the
future by reason of the automatic increase clause embodied in
the policy without the need of another contract.
Same Same Same The amount insured by the policy at the
time of its issuance necessarily includes the additional sum
covered by the automatic increase clause because it is already
determinate at the time the transaction is entered into and forms
part of the policy.Here, although the automatic increase in the
amount of life insurance coverage was to take effect later on, the
date of its effectivity, as well as the amount of the increase, was
already definite at the time of the issuance of the policy. Thus, the
amount insured by the policy at the time of its issuance
necessarily included the additional sum covered by the automatic
increase clause because it was already determinable at the time
the transaction was entered into and formed part of the policy.
The automatic increase clause in the policy is in the nature of a
conditional obligation under Article 1181, by which the increase of
the insurance coverage shall depend upon the happening of the
event which constitutes the obligation. In the instant case, the
additional insurance that took effect in 1984 was an obligation
subject to a suspensive obligation, but still a part of the insurance
sold to which private respondent was liable for the payment of the
documentary stamp tax.
Same Same Tax Avoidance Tax Evasion While tax

avoidance schemes and arrangements are not prohibited, tax laws
cannot be circumvented in order to evade the payment of just taxes.
It should be emphasized that while tax avoidance schemes and
arrangements are not prohibited, tax laws cannot be
circumvented in order to evade the payment of just taxes. In the
case at bar, to claim that the increase in the amount insured (by
virtue of the automatic increase clause incorporated into the
policy at the time of issuance) should not be included in the
computation of the documentary stamp taxes due on the policy
would be a clear evasion of the law requiring that the tax be
computed on the basis of the amount insured by the policy.
PETITION for review on certiorari of a decision of the

Court of Appeals.
The facts are stated in the opinion of the Court.

The Solicitor General for petitioner.
Juanito C. Castaeda, Jr. for private respondent.
425
VOL. 379, MARCH 19, 2002 425

KAPUNAN, J.:
This is a petition for review on certiorari filed by the

Commission on Internal Revenue of the decision of the
Court of Appeals dated November 18, 1994 in C.A.G.R. SP
No. 31224 which reversed in part the decision of the Court
of Tax Appeals in C.T.A. Case No. 4583.
The facts of the case are undisputed.
Private respondent Lincoln Philippine Life Insurance
Co., Inc., (now JardineCMA Life Insurance Company, Inc.)
is a domestic corporation registered with the Securities and
Exchange Commission and engaged in life insurance
business. In the years prior to 1984, private respondent
issued a special kind of life insurance policy known as the
Junior Estate Builder Policy, the distinguishing feature
of which is a clause providing for an automatic increase in
the amount of life insurance coverage upon attainment of a
certain age by the insured without the need of issuing a
new policy. The clause was to take effect in the year 1984.
Documentary stamp taxes due on the policy were paid by
petitioner only on the initial sum assured.
In 1984, private respondent also issued 50,000 shares of

stock dividends with a par value of P100.00 per share or a
total par value of P5,000,000.00. The actual value of said
shares, represented by its book value, was P19,307,500.00.
Documentary stamp taxes were paid based only on the par
value of P5,000,000.00 and not on the book value.
Subsequently, petitioner issued deficiency documentary
stamps tax assessment for the year 1984 in the amounts of
(a) P464,898.75, corresponding to the amount of automatic
increase of the sum assured on the policy issued by
respondent, and (b) P78,991.25 corresponding to the book
value in excess of the par value of the stock dividends. The
computation of the deficiency
On Policies Issued:
Total policy issued
during the year P1,360,054,000.00
426

Documentary stamp tax

due thereon
(P1,360,054,000.00 divided by
P200.00 multiplied by P0.35) P2,380,094.50
Less: Payment P1,915,495.75
Deficiency P 464,598.75
Add: Compromise Penalty P 300.00
TOTAL AMOUNT DUE & COLLECTIBLE P 464,898.75
Private respondent questioned the deficiency assessments

and sought their cancellation in a petition filed in the
Court of Tax Appeals, docketed as CTA Case No. 4583.
On March 30, 1993, the Court of Tax Appeals found no
valid basis for the deficiency tax assessment on the stock
dividends, as well as on the insurance policy. The
dispositive portion of the CTAs decision reads:
WHEREFORE, the deficiency documentary stamp tax

assessments in the amount of P464,898.76 and P78,991.25 or a
total of P543,890.01 are hereby cancelled for lack of merit.
Respondent Commissioner of Internal Revenue is ordered to

desist from collecting said deficiency documentary stamp taxes for
the same are considered
1
withdrawn.
SO ORDERED.
Petitioner appealed the CTAs decision to the Court of

Appeals. On November 18, 1994, the Court of Appeals
promulgated a decision affirming the CTAs decision
insofar as it nullified the deficiency assessment on the
insurance policy, but reversing the same with regard to the
deficiency assessment on the stock dividends. The CTA
ruled that the correct basis of the documentary stamp tax
due on the stock dividends is the actual value or book value
represented by the shares. The dispositive portion of the
Court of Appeals decision states:
IN VIEW OF ALL THE FOREGOING, the decision appealed from

is hereby REVERSED with respect to the deficiency tax
assessment on the stock dividends, but AFFIRMED with regards
to the assessment on the Insurance Policies. Consequently,
private respondent is ordered to pay the
______________
1 Court of Appeals (CA) Rollo, p. 16, Annex B.
427
VOL. 379, MARCH 19, 2002 427

petitioner herein the sum of P78,991.25, representing

documentary stamp tax on the stock dividends it issued. No costs
pronouncement. 2
SO ORDERED.
A motion3
for reconsideration of the decision having been
denied, both the Commissioner of Internal Revenue and
private respondent appealed to this Court, docketed as G.R.
No. 118043 and G.R. No. 119176, respectively. In G.R. No.
118043, private respondent appealed the decision of the
Court of Appeals insofar as it upheld the validity of the
deficiency tax assessment on the stock dividends. The
Commissioner of Internal Revenue, on his part, filed the
present petition questioning that portion of the Court of
Appeals decision which invalidated the deficiency
assessment on the insurance policy, attributing the
following errors:
THE HONORABLE COURT OF APPEALS ERRED WHEN IT

RULED THAT THERE IS A SINGLE AGREEMENT EMBODIED
IN THE POLICY AND THAT THE AUTOMATIC INCREASE
CLAUSE IS NOT A SEPARATE AGREEMENT, CONTRARY TO
SECTION 49 OF THE INSURANCE CODE AND SECTION 183
OF THE REVENUE CODE THAT A RIDER, A CLAUSE IS
PART OF THE POLICY.
THE HONORABLE COURT OF APPEALS ERRED IN NOT
COMPUTING THE AMOUNT OF TAX ON THE TOTAL VALUE
OF THE INSURANCE ASSURED IN THE POLICY INCLUDING
THE ADDITIONAL INCREASE ASSURED BY THE
AUTOMATIC INCREASE CLAUSE DESPITE ITS RULING
THAT THE ORIGINAL POLICY AND THE AUTOMATIC
CLAUSE CONSTITUTED
4
ONLY A SINGULAR
TRANSACTION.
Section 173 of the National Internal Revenue Code on

documentary stamp taxes provides:
Sec. 173. Stamp taxes upon documents, instruments and papers.

Upon documents, instruments, loan agreements, and papers, and
upon acceptances, assignments, sales, and transfers of the
obligation, right or property incident thereto, there shall be
levied, collected and paid for, and in respect of the transaction so
had or accomplished, the corresponding
______________
2 Rollo, p. 47.
3 CA Rollo, p. 218.
4 Rollo, p. 19.
428

documentary stamp taxes prescribed in the following section of

this Title, by the person making, signing, issuing, accepting, or
transferring the same wherever the document is made, signed,
issued, accepted, or transferred when the obligation or right
arises from Philippine sources or the property is situated in the
Philippines, and at the same time such act is done or transaction
had: Provided, That whenever one party to the taxable document
enjoys exemption from the tax herein imposed, the other party
thereto who is not exempt shall be the one directly liable for the
tax. (As amended by PD No. 1994) The basis for the value of
documentary stamp taxes to be paid on the insurance policy is
Section 183 of the National Internal Revenue Code which states

in part:
The basis for the value of documentary stamp taxes to be

paid on the insurance policy is Section 183 of the National
Internal Revenue Code which states in part:
Sec. 183. Stamp tax on life insurance policies.On all policies of

insurance or other instruments by whatever name the same may
be called, whereby any insurance shall be made or renewed upon
any life or lives, there shall be collected a documentary stamp tax
of thirty (now 50c) centavos on each Two hundred pesos per
fractional part thereof, of the amount insured by any such policy.
Petitioner claims that the automatic increase clause in

the subject insurance policy is separate and distinct from
the main agreement and involves another transaction and
that, while no new policy was issued, the original policy
was essentially reissued when the additional obligation
was assumed upon the effectivity of this automatic
increase clause in 1984 hence, a deficiency assessment
based on the additional insurance not covered in the main
policy is in order.
The Court of Appeals sustained the CTAs ruling that
there was only one transaction involved in the issuance of
the insurance policy and that the automatic increase
clause is an integral part of that policy.
The petition is impressed with merit.
Section 49, Title VI of the Insurance Code defines an
insurance policy as the written instrument in which a
contract of insurance is
429
VOL. 379, MARCH 19, 2002 429

5
set forth. Section 50 of the same Code provides that the
policy, which is required to be in printed form, may contain
any word, phrase, clause, mark, sign, symbol, signature,
number, or 6
word necessary to complete the contract of
insurance. It is thus clear that any rider, clause, warranty
or endorsement pasted or attached to the policy is
considered part of such policy or contract of insurance.
The subject insurance policy at the time it was issued
contained an automatic increase clause. Although the
clause was to take effect only in 1984, it was written into
the policy at the time of its issuance. The distinctive
feature of the junior estate builder policy called the

automatic increase clause already formed part and parcel
of the insurance contract, hence, there was no need for an
execution of a separate agreement for the increase in the
coverage that took effect in 1984 when the assured reached
a certain age.
It is clear from Section 173 that the payment of
documentary stamp taxes is done at the time the act is
done or transaction had and the tax base for the
computation of documentary stamp taxes on life insurance
policies under Section 183 is the amount fixed in policy,
unless the interest of a person insured is susceptible of
______________
5 SEC. 49. The written instrument in which a contract of insurance is

set forth, is called a policy of insurance.
6 SEC. 50. The policy shall be in printed form which may contain blank
spaces and any word, phrase, clause, mark, sign, symbol, signature,
number, or word necessary to complete the contract of insurance shall be
written on the blank spaces provided therein.
Any rider, clause, warranty or endorsement purporting to be part of the
contract of insurance and which is pasted or attached to said policy is not
binding on the insured, unless the descriptive title or name of the rider,
clause, warranty, or endorsement is also mentioned and written on the
blank spaces provided in the policy.
Unless applied for by the insured or owner, any rider, clause, warranty
or endorsement issued after the original policy shall be countersigned by
the insured or owner, which countersignature shall be taken as his
agreement to the contents of such rider, clause, warranty or endorsement.
Group insurance and group annuity policies, however, may be
typewritten and need not be in printed form.
430

7
exact pecuniary measurement. What then is the amount
fixed in the policy? Logically, we believe that the amount
fixed in the policy is the figure written on its face and
whatever increases will take effect in the future by reason
of the automatic increase clause embodied in the policy
without the need of another contract.
Here, although the automatic increase in the amount of
life insurance coverage was to take effect later on, the date
of its effectivity, as well as the amount of the increase, was
already definite at the time of the issuance of the policy.

Thus, the amount insured by the policy at the time of its
issuance necessarily included the additional sum covered
by the automatic increase clause because it was already
determinable at the time the transaction was entered into
and formed part of the policy.
The automatic increase clause in the policy is in 8 the
nature of a conditional obligation under Article 1181, by
which the increase of the insurance coverage shall depend
upon the happening of the event which constitutes the
obligation. In the instant case, the additional insurance
that took effect in 1984
9
was an obligation subject to a
suspensive obligation, but still a part of the insurance sold
to which private respondent was liable for the payment of
the documentary stamp tax.
The deficiency of documentary stamp tax imposed on
private respondent is definitely not on the amount of the
original insurance coverage, but on the increase of the
amount insured upon the effectivity of the Junior Estate
Builder Policy.
______________
7 Sec. 183. Insurance Code of the Phils.Unless the interest of a person

insured is capable of exact pecuniary measurement, the measure of
indemnity under a policy of insurance upon life or health is the sum fixed
in the policy.
8 Art. 1181. In conditional obligations, the acquisition of rights, as well
as the extinguishment or loss of those already acquired, shall depend upon
the happening of the event which constitutes the condition.
9 Article 18 of the Civil Code provides that on matters which are
governed by the Code of Commerce and special laws, their deficiency shall
be supplied by the provision of this Code.
431
VOL. 379, MARCH 19, 2002 431

Finally, it should be emphasized that while tax10avoidance

schemes and arrangements are not prohibited, tax laws
cannot be circumvented in order to evade the payment of
just taxes. In the case at bar, to claim that the increase in
the amount insured (by virtue of the automatic increase
clause incorporated into the policy at the time of issuance)
should not be included in the computation of the
documentary stamp taxes due on the policy would be a
clear evasion of the law requiring that the tax be computed

on the basis of the amount insured by the policy.
WHEREFORE, the petition is hereby given DUE
COURSE. The decision of the Court of Appeals is SET
ASIDE insofar as it affirmed the decision of the Court of
Tax Appeals nullifying the deficiency stamp tax
assessment petitioner imposed on private respondent in the
amount of P464,898.75 corresponding to the increase in
1984 of the sum under the policy issued by respondent.
SO ORDERED
Davide, Jr. (C.J., Chairman) and YnaresSantiago,

J., concur.
Puno, J., On official leave.
Petition granted, judgment set aside.
Notes.Before one is prosecuted for wilful attempt to

evade or defeat any tax under Sections 253 and 255 of the
Tax Code, the fact that a tax is due must first be proved.
(Commissioner of Internal Revenue vs. Court of Appeals,
257 SCRA 200 [1996])
Stock dividends are shares of stock and not certificates
of stock which merely represent them. There is, therefore,
no reason for determining the actual value of such
dividends for purposes of the documentary stamp tax if the
certificates representing them indicate a par value.
(Lincoln Philippine Life Insurance Company, Inc. vs. Court
of Appeals, 293 SCRA 92 [1998])
Life and nonlife insurance policies are subject to
documentary stamp taxes by their mere issuance, and the
fact that the policies
______________
10 Delpher Trades Corporation vs. Intermediate Appellate Court, 157

SCRA 349 (1988).
432

People vs. Yatco
have not become effective for nonpayment of the

corresponding premiums cannot affect the insurance
companys liability for payment of documentary stamp
taxes. (Philippine Home Assurance Corporation vs. Court of
Appeals, 301 SCRA 443 [1999])
o0o
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3/8/2017 SUPREMECOURTREPORTSANNOTATEDVOLUME379

VOL. 379, MARCH 19, 2002 423

COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, petitioner,

Insurance Any rider, clause, warranty or endorsement pasted

when the assured reached a certain age. It is clear from Section

424 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

Commissioner of Internal Revenue vs. Lincoln Philippine Life

Same Same Tax Avoidance Tax Evasion While tax

PETITION for review on certiorari of a decision of the

The facts are stated in the opinion of the Court.

VOL. 379, MARCH 19, 2002 425

This is a petition for review on certiorari filed by the

In 1984, private respondent also issued 50,000 shares of

426 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

Documentary stamp tax

Private respondent questioned the deficiency assessments

WHEREFORE, the deficiency documentary stamp tax

Respondent Commissioner of Internal Revenue is ordered to

Petitioner appealed the CTAs decision to the Court of

IN VIEW OF ALL THE FOREGOING, the decision appealed from

1 Court of Appeals (CA) Rollo, p. 16, Annex B.

VOL. 379, MARCH 19, 2002 427

petitioner herein the sum of P78,991.25, representing

THE HONORABLE COURT OF APPEALS ERRED WHEN IT

Section 173 of the National Internal Revenue Code on

Sec. 173. Stamp taxes upon documents, instruments and papers.

428 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

documentary stamp taxes prescribed in the following section of

Section 183 of the National Internal Revenue Code which states

The basis for the value of documentary stamp taxes to be

Sec. 183. Stamp tax on life insurance policies.On all policies of

Petitioner claims that the automatic increase clause in

VOL. 379, MARCH 19, 2002 429

feature of the junior estate builder policy called the

5 SEC. 49. The written instrument in which a contract of insurance is

430 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

already definite at the time of the issuance of the policy.

7 Sec. 183. Insurance Code of the Phils.Unless the interest of a person

VOL. 379, MARCH 19, 2002 431

Finally, it should be emphasized that while tax10avoidance

clear evasion of the law requiring that the tax be computed

Davide, Jr. (C.J., Chairman) and YnaresSantiago,

Petition granted, judgment set aside.

Notes.Before one is prosecuted for wilful attempt to

10 Delpher Trades Corporation vs. Intermediate Appellate Court, 157

432 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

have not become effective for nonpayment of the

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