Legal Insights
Plain-language guides and case briefs on Philippine law — researched from the firm's law library of 184,000+ statutes, Supreme Court decisions, and agency issuances, and written so non-lawyers can understand and act on them.
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Privacy Impact Assessment in the Philippines: When It's Required
Learn when a Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) is required in the Philippines under the Data Privacy Act of 2012 and its IRR.
How to Protest a BIR Tax Assessment in the Philippines
Learn the step-by-step procedure to protest a BIR tax assessment in the Philippines, including deadlines, required documents, and remedies under the NIRC.
When an Interim Medical Assessment Is Not Enough: Seafarer Wins Full Disability Benefits
A company doctor's interim disability rating cannot cut off a seafarer's treatment or benefits. The Supreme Court explains why.
Defective Tax Waivers: Supreme Court Voids BIR Assessment Against Telstar
Supreme Court voids BIR deficiency assessment against Telstar due to defective waivers and lack of demand for payment, reinforcing strict rules on prescriptive periods.
Seafarer Disability Benefits: When a Late or Vague Medical Assessment Means Automatic Total Disability
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies when a company-designated physician's incomplete or late medical assessment entitles a seafarer to permanent total disability benefits.
Seafarer Disability Claims Understanding Valid Medical Assessments AND Your Rights
The Supreme Court clarifies what makes a company-designated physician's medical assessment valid in seafarer disability claims, protecting seafarer rights.
Seafarer Disability Claims: Why Medical Assessment and Timelines Matter
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when seafarers may claim total permanent disability benefits and why medical assessment timelines are critical.
Tax Assessment Time Limits: How a Missed Deadline Can Save You Millions
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on tax assessment prescription periods, false returns, and why the BIR's missed deadlines can invalidate deficiency assessments.
Tax Assessment vs Tax Refund: Know Your Rights Under the Local Government Code
The Supreme Court clarifies when taxpayers may claim a refund under Section 196 instead of protesting an assessment under Section 195 of the Local Government Code.
When Tax Assessments Are Not Required: Civil Liability in Philippine Tax Evasion Cases
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when a formal BIR tax assessment is not required to hold taxpayers civilly liable in criminal tax evasion cases.
Psychological Incapacity and Expert Testimony: What Zamora v. Zamora Means for Nullity Cases
The Supreme Court clarifies that a psychological assessment report is not indispensable in nullity cases—totality of evidence is what matters.
Letter of Authority vs. Letter Notice: When a BIR Tax Assessment Is Void
The Supreme Court ruled that a BIR Letter Notice cannot substitute for a Letter of Authority—assessments without a valid LOA are void.
Local Tax Assessments After Corporate Restructuring: Who Pays?
Supreme Court rules on who bears local business tax liability when a government corporation's operations transfer by law to another entity.
Due Process in Tax Assessments: When BIR Service of Notices Fails
Supreme Court voids BIR deficiency assessments served on unauthorized persons, stressing strict due process rules in tax collection.
Tax Evasion in the Philippines: When Can the Government Collect Without an Assessment
The Supreme Court clarifies when the BIR can collect deficiency taxes without a formal assessment in criminal tax evasion cases.
The Indefinite Assessment Seafarers Right To Disability Benefits Under Philippine LAW
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies seafarers' disability benefits when company doctors fail to issue timely final assessments.
Seafarers Disability Benefits: Why Timely Medical Assessments Matter
The Supreme Court clarifies that a company-designated physician's failure to issue a final disability assessment within 120/240 days makes a seafarer's disability total and permanent.
Letter of Authority Required When Reassigning Tax Audits: Supreme Court Ruling
Supreme Court nullifies tax assessments where audits were reassigned without a new Letter of Authority. Learn the rules.
Due Process in Tax Assessments: Strict Adherence to Notice Requirements
The Supreme Court nullified a deficiency tax assessment because the BIR issued the Final Assessment Notice before the taxpayer's 15-day period to reply to the Preliminary Assessment Notice lapsed.
When a Company Doctor's Silence Ends a Seafarer's Claim: The Lingering Duty to Assess
A company-designated physician's failure to issue a final disability assessment within 240 days makes a seafarer's disability total and permanent by operation of law.
Abandonment of Medical Treatment Impact on Seafarer Disability Claims
How a company doctor's failure to issue a timely disability assessment affects a seafarer's claim for total and permanent disability benefits.
Seafarers Disability Accident CBA Benefits and Employer Obligations in Maritime Employment
When a CBA governs seafarer disability, its better benefits prevail over the POEA-SEC, and employers must timely issue final medical assessments.
Taxpayers May Await Commissioner's Decision Before Appealing BIR Assessments to CTA
Supreme Court clarifies taxpayers may await the Commissioner's ruling on a protested BIR assessment before filing an appeal with the Court of Tax Appeals.
Untimely Medical Assessments Protecting Seafarers Rights TO Disability Benefits
When company doctors miss the deadline for a final assessment, a seafarer's disability is deemed permanent and total.