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Audit approach overview
Our audit approach will allow our client's accounting personnel to make the maximum contribution to the audit effort without compromising their ongoing responsibilities
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Annual and short period audit
At P&A Grant Thornton, we provide annual and short period financial statement audit services that go beyond the normal expectations of our clients. We believe strongly that our best work comes from combining outstanding technical expertise, knowledge and ability with exceptional client-focused service. A team-based approach defined by dedication to partner involvement in all engagements—that’s our service commitment locally and globally. An organization’s financial statements are a reference of choice for a variety of users who are required to make decisions. Whether it is a financial institution, a government agency, creditors, shareholders, or potential buyers, every one of your partners requires financial information that accurately reflects the soundness of your organization.
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Review engagement
A review involves limited investigation with a narrower scope than an audit, and is undertaken for the purpose of providing limited assurance that the management’s representations are in accordance with identified financial reporting standards. Our professionals recognize that in order to conduct a quality financial statement review, it is important to look beyond the accounting entries to the underlying activities and operations that give rise to them.
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Other Related Services
We make it a point to keep our clients abreast of the developments and updates relating to the growing complexities in the accounting world. We offer seminars and trainings on audit- and tax-related matters, such as updates on Accounting Standards, new pronouncements and Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) issuances, as well as other developments that affect our clients’ businesses. Participants are entitled to credited units for Continuing Professional Education (CPE), which are required by the Board of Accountancy. CPE is indicative of an individual’s genuine concern for his or her continued growth as a professional. Our team can help in achieving that.
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Tax advisory
Assistance during tax audit/contesting an assessment We assist clients in handling audits by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), Bureau of Customs (BOC) and local government units (LGUs) in a systematic and efficient manner. We help evaluate the validity of assessments, determine the appropriate documents and analyses to be submitted, prepare protests, and represent clients in meetings and discussions with government agencies. With our knowledge of tax laws and audit procedures, we help safeguard the substantive and procedural rights of taxpayers and prevent unwarranted assessments. Tax opinion and studies We conduct tax studies and provide advice to clients on the tax implications of specific transactions based on relevant laws, regulations, court decisions, rulings, and other relevant issuances. We likewise provide recommendations to address or mitigate tax issues arising from said transactions. Application for tax refund/credit We help clients recover taxes that have been erroneously or excessively paid or withheld through applications for refund or tax credit certificates (TCCs). Applications for refunds or TCCs are recommended for companies that have excess income taxes paid or unutilized creditable withholding taxes as reflected in the final income tax return (ITR), excess unutilized VAT input taxes arising from zero-rated transactions or change in VAT status, unutilized advanced VAT, excise taxes paid on petroleum products sold to tax-exempt entities and international carriers, other national or local taxes erroneously or excessively paid, or penalties imposed without authority.
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Tax compliance
Tax review We evaluate clients’ overall level of compliance with existing laws and regulations; caution them on procedures and practices that expose them to potential tax liabilities; quantify tax exposures, risks and penalties; and advise them on proper course of action and alternative tax-efficient policies and procedures. Tax due diligence review is particularly recommended for companies that are contemplating expansion, mergers and consolidation, acquisitions, change in ownership, or public listing. Expatriate tax services We ensure the proper and efficient compliance of expatriates with their Philippine income tax obligations. Our services include registration and application for Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), preparation and filing of annual Philippine income tax return, and payment of tax due in the proper venue and within the allowed period. As a value-added service, we respond to Correspondence Audits/Inquiries by the BIR regarding information declared in the tax return. If desired by clients, we also conduct arrival or departure briefings and interviews to apprise the expatriate of his Philippine tax liabilities. Upon a company’s request, we can compute, on an annualized basis, the total withholding tax due from its expatriate during the taxable year and prepare tax equalization and reimbursement calculations in accordance with company policies.
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Corporate services
Assistance for incentives availment We help clients evaluate their qualification for incentives under the Board of Investments, the Philippine Economic Zone Authority, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority or other special laws. If clients are qualified, we assist them in applying with the concerned government agency for such incentives. Our assistance covers filing of the application and supporting documents, monitoring the progress of the application, meeting/discussion issues, if any, with regulatory authorities, and securing the approval for such incentives. At the clients’ request, we may also assist in ascertaining their compliance with regulatory requirements (to ensure the continued entitlement to incentives), or in justifying the entitlement to such incentives in the event of a challenge by the BIR or other regulatory agencies. Corporate organization and registration For clients that want to do business in the Philippines, we assist in determining the appropriate and tax-efficient operating business or investment vehicle and structure to address the objectives of the investor, as well as related incorporation issues. We help set up the business and register it with concerned government regulatory agencies, such as the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Bureau of Internal Revenue, the Local Government Unit, the Social Security System and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. We also assist in notifying and/or securing necessary approvals from government regulatory agencies when there are changes in business activities, business status, or tax-type registration.
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Tax education and advocacy
Tax advocacy We actively participate in consultation and public hearings conducted by the Bureau of Internal Revenue on proposed tax rules and regulations, serving as a bridge between our clients and the BIR. Our advocacy work focuses on clarifying the interpretation of laws and regulations, suggesting measures to increasingly ease tax compliance, and protecting taxpayer’s rights. Tax seminars and training We offer seminars and training on tax-related developments and special issues of interest to taxpayers. Upon request, we provide customized in-house tax training – designed jointly by P&A and the client – that directly addresses the specific issues of the client’s industry and the training needs of its personnel.
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Business risk services
Our business risk services cover a wide range of solutions that assist you in identifying, addressing and monitoring risks in your business. Such solutions include external quality assessments of your Internal Audit activities' conformance with standards as well as evaluating its readiness for such an external assessment. We can also take over your IA function altogether or work alongside you to create more value for your organization. On a higher level, our Enterprise Risk Management methodology can help your organization identify vital strategies and action plans that address key business risks, thereby enabling you to achieve your overall objective of value creation for stakeholders.
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Business consulting services
Our business consulting services are aimed at addressing concerns in your operations, processes and systems. Using our extensive knowledge of various industries, we can take a close look at your business processes as we create solutions that can help you mitigate risks to meet your objectives, promote efficiencies, and beef up controls. This can include analyzing your information technology (IT) applications and infrastructure in order to improve IT governance and strategy, strengthen security, and/or assess business risks and controls related to the use of IT.
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Transaction services
Transaction advisory includes all of our services specifically directed at assisting in investment, mergers and acquisitions, and financing transactions between and among businesses, lenders and governments. Such services include, among others, due diligence reviews, project feasibility studies, financial modelling, model audits and valuation. We are one of the few companies accredited by the Philippine Stock Exchange for the conduct of valuation and issuance of fairness opinions. Our consortium with another Grant Thornton office and a Philippine law office is also one of the fourteen (14) members of the panel of transaction advisers of the Public-Private Partnership Center of the Philippines.
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Forensic advisory
Our forensic advisory services include assessing your vulnerability to fraud and identifying fraud risk factors, and recommending practical solutions to eliminate the gaps. We also provide investigative services to detect and quantify fraud and corruption and to trace assets and data that may have been lost in a fraud event.
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Cyber advisory
Our focus is to help you identify and manage the cyber risks you might be facing within your organization. Our team can provide detailed, actionable insight that incorporates industry best practices and standards to strengthen your cybersecurity position and help you make informed decisions.
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ProActive Hotline
Providing support in preventing and detecting fraud by creating a safe and secure whistleblowing system to promote integrity and honesty in the organisation.
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Accounting services
Accounting services Many multinational companies are setting up their accounting offices in the Philippines. These businesses realize that accounting functions can be standardized across companies around the world and handled by an office halfway across the globe for a fraction of the amount needed to maintain an in-house accounting division. At P&A Grant Thornton, we handle accounting services for several companies from a wide range of industries. Our approach is highly flexible. You may opt to outsource all your accounting functions, or pass on to us choice activities, such as
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Staff augmentation services
Staff Augmentation Services It is a familiar enough scenario: A company suddenly has an urgent need for personnel on a short term, project basis to do accounting or accounting-related work. Considering the short-term nature of the work, it becomes very difficult to find interested candidates. Moreover, companies do not need just anybody, but people with sufficient technical accounting skills. P&A Grant Thornton has a pool of skilled accounting specialists who can fill the gap for companies in such situations. We offer Staff Augmentation services where our staff, under the direction and supervision of the company’s officers, perform accounting and accounting-related work. We have a long list of clients that have benefited from our assistance with the following activities: · Migration from one accounting system to another accounting system · Bank reconciliation for several bank accounts that have not been reconciled for years · Data cleansing, such as reconciliation of balances in subsidiary ledgers of receivables and payables with the general ledger balances · Physical counts of inventories and reconciling the results of the physical count with the accounting records · Count of property and equipment; tagging and reconciliation of the count with the accounting records; and properly setting up the property ledgers · Preparation of schedules and documentary supports and requirements during audits by internal and external parties, including government agencies · Preparation of statements of accounts for certain customers · Acting as accounting personnel while regular accounting staff are on leave This is just a sampling of the services we offer, and we can provide more short-term accounting services on short notice. We can adjust the schedules of our people to fit your work hours and we guarantee high-quality service: Our team is made up of technically competent and properly trained people who are prepared to handle your needs.
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Payroll Processing
More and more companies are beginning to realize the benefits of outsourcing their noncore activities, and the first to be outsourced is usually the payroll function. Payroll is easy to carve out from the rest of the business since it is usually independent of the other activities or functions within the Accounting Department. Payroll processing may look simple, but the process can get complicated, especially as a business expands its manpower. A payroll accountant has to make sure that correct taxes as well as loans of their employees are properly deducted, update the tax status of employees (single, married, no. of dependents, etc.) on a regular basis; monitor work activities during the payroll period (overtimes, sick leaves, vacation leaves, etc.); know which income accounts are taxable or not (de minimis, bonuses within the P82,000 limit, etc.); know the rules and regulations and the latest updates of relevant government agencies (BIR, SSS, Pag-IBIG, PhilHealth, etc.); and ensure that payroll processing and payouts are done on time to avoid employee complaints or dissatisfaction. In addition, the payroll accountant has to ensure that contributions to various government agencies are properly posted to the accounts of the employees. In some companies, payroll processing consumes a significant part of management time: The highest finance or HR officer in the company oftentimes handles management or executive payroll. If payroll is outsourced, the executive officer has better use of his or her time than reviewing or processing the payroll. Moreover, there is the issue of confidentiality – some employees may inadvertently gain access to confidential payroll information when data are lying around during the payroll processing period. Another issue that business owners must watch out for with regard to payroll is fraud. Since the processing of payroll is handled by just one or two trusted persons, oversight may be lax and review may not always be conducted thoroughly, thus fraud happens. P&A Grant Thornton can handle your payroll processing needs so that your management team can focus on your core competencies, enabling you to concentrate on what’s really important to your business . Our team of well-experienced and properly trained professionals can handle your payroll requirements whether you have 10 or 10,000 personnel. In addition to the computation of employees’ pay, P&A Grant Thornton can also provide the following functions under our payroll processing services: Maintain bank accounts exclusively for payroll and payroll-related disbursements Prepare schedules of statutory and internal contributions and obligations File and pay statutory contributions and obligations, manually or electronically Annualize employees’ income tax Provide secure online payslips through our ePayroll facility Handle administration of benefits that needs coordination with government agencies
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Our values
Grant Thornton prides itself on being a values-driven organisation and we have more than 38,500 people in over 130 countries who are passionately committed to these values.
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Global culture
Our people tell us that our global culture is one of the biggest attractions of a career with Grant Thornton.
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Learning & development
At Grant Thornton we believe learning and development opportunities allow you to perform at your best every day. And when you are at your best, we are the best at serving our clients
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Global talent mobility
One of the biggest attractions of a career with Grant Thornton is the opportunity to work on cross-border projects all over the world.
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Diversity
Diversity helps us meet the demands of a changing world. We value the fact that our people come from all walks of life and that this diversity of experience and perspective makes our organisation stronger as a result.
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In the community
Many Grant Thornton member firms provide a range of inspirational and generous services to the communities they serve.
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Fresh Graduates
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Students
Whether you are starting your career as a graduate or school leaver, P&A Grant Thornton can give you a flying start. We are ambitious. Take the fact that we’re the world’s fastest-growing global accountancy organisation. For our people, that means access to a global organisation and the chance to collaborate with more than 40,000 colleagues around the world. And potentially work in different countries and experience other cultures.
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Experienced hires
P&A Grant Thornton offers something you can't find anywhere else. This is the opportunity to develop your ideas and thinking while having your efforts recognised from day one. We value the skills and knowledge you bring to Grant Thornton as an experienced professional and look forward to supporting you as you grow you career with our organisation.
A deserved tax break for working mothers
22 Oct 2019In February, President Rodrigo R. Duterte signed Republic Act No. 11210 or the 105-Day Expanded Maternity Leave Law (EMLL). The expanded maternity leave benefits under the EMLL are fully tax-exempt. This is the interpretation issued by the BIR in RMC 105-2019. Indeed, this is a deserved tax break for working mothers.
Under the law, all covered female workers in the private and public sector, including those in the informal economy, regardless of civil status or the legitimacy of the child, is entitled to 105 days of maternity leave, a considerable increase from the initial 60 days, or 78 days in case of caesarian section, with an option to extend for an additional 30 days without pay.
In addition, the law also mandates full pay. Under the old law, the maternity benefit does not add up to 100% of the employee’s compensation. It is computed only based on the average daily salary which is obtained by dividing the sum of the female member’s six highest monthly salary credits in the twelve-month period preceding the semester of contingency by 180 days:
Average daily salary = [(monthly salary credit x 6)/180]
The monthly salary credit, on the other hand, is based on the Schedule of Contribution of the SSS, wherein the maximum monthly salary credit for the year is only P20,000. The average daily credit multiplied by 60 days, which is the previous number of maternity leave credits, will be the total benefit due. Hence, this cannot reach the full pay.
Under Section I.j. of Rule II of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the Act jointly issued by the Civil Service Commission (CSC), Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) and Social Security System (SSS), the term “full pay” is defined as:
“…actual remuneration or earnings paid by an employer to a worker for services rendered on normal working days and hour not lower than the wage rate fixed by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) including allowances provided for under existing company policy or collective bargaining agreement, if any. Full pay in the public, on the other hand, includes the basic salary and allowances as may be provided under existing guidelines”
Although the law mandates full pay, this will still be partly shared by the SSS and the employer. The SSS will contribute based on the old formula on average daily salary. The payment of the salary differential representing the difference between the SSS-paid benefit and the employee’s basic pay, will be mandatorily shouldered by the employer.
Previously, payment of the salary differential was not mandatory and only upon discretion of the employer.
With the new law, female workers availing of maternity benefit will now receive full pay which consists of the SSS maternity benefit based on their average daily salary credit and the salary differential, if any. This ensures that the employee will still receive the equivalent of full pay while on maternity leave.
While employers are now required to pay the salary differential, the new law also listed certain establishments that may be exempted from paying the salary differential subject to compliance with certain requirements.
(1) Those operating distressed establishments;
(2) Those retail/service establishments and other enterprises employing not more than 10 workers;
(3) Those considered micro enterprises and engaged in the production, processing, or manufacturing of products or commodities including agro-processing, trading, and services, whose total assets are not more than P3 million; and
(4) Those who are already providing similar or more than the benefits herein provided.
Here lies the question: Will the salary differential continue to be a taxable benefit? Before the enactment of RA 110210, any salary differential given by employers is treated as a taxable benefit since the income tax exemption under the Tax Code only covers the SSS maternity benefits, i.e., the amount reimbursed by SSS to the employer. Unfortunately, there is nothing in the Expanded Maternity Leave Law that provides for the tax exemption of the salary differential.
In July, DoLE issued Department Advisory (Series of 2019) which provides the guidelines on the computation of salary differential of female workers during maternity leave and the criteria for exemption.
Under Item II. Computation of Salary Differential, the guidelines provide that the amount of salary differential are to be treated as taxable income of the female worker subject to the rules and regulations of the Bureau of Internal Revenue.
But lo and behold, with less than a hundred days before Christmas, the Bureau issued a memorandum circular to clarify the proper tax treatment of the salary differential to be paid by the employer under the 105-Day Expanded Maternity Leave Law. With the issuance of Revenue Memorandum Circular (RMC) No. 105-2019, the Bureau clarified that salary differential paid by the employer should be treated as tax-exempt benefits.
Based on the cited provisions of the new law, wherein the maternity benefit has been expanded from the previous 100% of the average daily credit to full pay or salary including the salary differential as its component, the BIR now interpreted that indeed the salary differential is considered a benefit. Under Section 2.78.1(B)(1)(e) of Revenue Regulations (RR) No. 2-98, as amended, the payments of benefits made under the Social Security Act of 1954, as amended, are exempt from withholding tax.
It is the Bureau’s interpretation that the salary differential is considered a benefit under the Social Security Law. Therefore, the Bureau concludes that the salary differential, in addition to the SSS maternity benefit, is to be exempt from withholding tax on compensation.
Another question being raised is the effectivity of the RMC. Will the adjustments be prospective or retrospective? Will it have the same effectivity as the RA 1011210 or the 105-Day Expanded Maternity Leave Law? The effectivity of the memorandum circular must be clearly stated for everyone’s guidance.
The simplest answer is this should apply prospectively to all female employees who availed of maternity leave credits on or before March 11, 2019, which is the effectivity of the Expanded Maternity Leave Law.
While childbirth is indeed a gift and a blessing to the family; it brings not only joy, but also entails some additional expenses. Having a newborn child would also mean additional expenses for their necessities — clothing, diapers, feeding bottles, vitamins, infant formula, and the like, not mentioning the cost of hospitalization. These additional expenses are just a few of the challenges new mothers and soon-to-be mothers are and will be facing.
With this recent issuance, somehow the weight of the additional expenses to be incurred by new mothers and soon-to-be mothers will be reduced, knowing that they can now receive their full salary, while they are on maternity leave, tax-free.
Christmas came early for those female employees who availed of maternity leave following the enactment of RA 101120 on March 11. Truly, it is a well-deserved tax break for working mothers.
Let’s Talk Tax is a weekly newspaper column of P&A Grant Thornton that aims to keep the public informed of various developments in taxation. This article is not intended to be a substitute for competent professional advice.
Junaleen Magno is a senior of Tax Advisory & Compliance division of P&A Grant Thornton
As published in BusinessWorld, dated 22 October 2019
