REVENUE MEMORANDUM ORDER NO. 27-2016 issued on June 23, 2016 prescribes the new procedures in claiming preferential tax treaty benefits on dividend, interest and royalty income of non-residents pursuant to effective tax treaties, thereby amending Revenue Memorandum Order (RMO) No. 72-2010. ln lieu of the mandatory tax treaty relief applications, preferential treaty rates for dividends, interests and royalties are granted outright by withholding final taxes at applicable treaty rates as shown in Annex A of the Order. Withholding agents shall file the appropriate BIR Form No. 1601-F and 1604-CF before the appropriate RDO where the domestic withholding agents of non-residents are registered. Payment of pertinent final taxes due shall be made to Authorized Agent Banks. Incomplete information provided on the form shall lead to penalties provided in Section 250 and other pertinent provisions of the National Internal Revenue Code (NIRC), as amended. Failure to supply accurate and complete information on BIR Forms 1601-F and 1604-CF shall be a ground for the denial of availment of preferential treaty rates and the disallowance of the pertinent expense/s of the withholding agent. Data collected from 1601-F and 1604-CF on the availment of treaty rates and income payment made to non-residents in general shall be monitored by the International Tax Affairs Division (ITAD) and Revenue District Office (RDO) No. 9. Such data shall be used for conducting risk analysis, formulating policies, developing the country’s treaty negotiating positions and generating management reports. Compliance check on withholding tax obligations and confirmation of appropriateness of availment of treaty benefits shall be part of BIR’s regular audit investigations conducted by the RDO where the domestic withholding agent is registered. Applications for ruling under Section 28 B (5) (b) of the NIRC for a preferential rate of 15% on intercorporate dividends paid to NRFC shall apply to NRFC which country of residence/domicile: a. Has no effective tax treaty with the Philippines; b. Has a worldwide system of taxation; and c. Allows credit against the tax due from the NRFC dividend taxes deemed to have been paid in the Philippines equivalent to 15%. ln the event of audit investigation, withholding agents shall keep the supporting documents (specified in the Order) in the records of the office pursuant to Revenue Regulations No. 5-2014, for substantiation of the claim for preferential treaty rates. The BIR reserves the right to request other additional documents in the course of audit. ln availing of the reduced rate of 15% on intercorporate dividends received by NRFC under Section 28 (B) (5) (b) of the NIRC, the NRFC shall file a separate application with the ITAD of the BIR with the following supporting documents: a. Application letter; b. Authenticated proof of residency; c. A consularized copy of the law of the country of the NRFC expressly stating that the country in which the NRFC is domiciled allows a credit against the tax due from the NRFC taxes deemed to have been paid in a foreign country (Philippines) equivalent to 15%; d. Certification from the Corporate Secretary of the domestic corporation stating the important details of the dividend declaration; and e. Special Power of Attorney, if applicable. This Order shall apply only to DIVIDENDS, INTEREST AND ROYALTIES, and not to any other type of income such as, but not limited to business profit, income from services, et. al. For income other than dividends, interest and royalties, the provisions contained in and the procedures required in RMO No. 72-2010 shall continue to apply, and obtaining ruling shall continue to be required. All application/s for preferential treaty rates on dividends, interest and royalties already filed before the ITAD prior to the effectivity of this Order shall still be processed and the corresponding ruling shall be issued.