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EN BANC

G.R. No. L-28571 and L-28644 July 31, 1970

COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Petitioner, vs. LIMPAN INVESTMENT CORPORATION and THE COURT OF TAX APPEALS, Respondents.

COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Petitioner, vs. LIMPAN INVESTMENT CORPORATION and THE COURT OF TAX APPEALS, Respondents.

CASTRO, J.:

These are sister cases, elevated to us from the Court of Tax Appeals on petition for review by the Commissioner of Internal Revenue.chanroblesvirtualawlibrarychanrobles virtual law library

The Limpan Investment Corporation filed income tax returns for the years 1959 and 1960, which became the bases of two deficiency tax assessments flowing from deduction disallowed after investigation and verification by the Bureau on Internal Revenue.chanroblesvirtualawlibrarychanrobles virtual law library

The assessment were disputed, and thereafter appeal was seasonably lodged with the Court of Tax Appeals.chanroblesvirtualawlibrarychanrobles virtual law library

Decision was rendered in CTA case 1358 (L-28571) on September 20, 1967, reducing the deficiency assessment to P26,137. Decision was rendered in CTA case 1397 (L-28644) on December 11, 1967, reducing the deficiency assessment to P7,240.48.chanroblesvirtualawlibrarychanrobles virtual law library

The uniform dispositive part of the decisions in both cases reads as follows:

... If the deficiency income tax is not paid in full within thirty (30) days from the date this decision becomes final and executory, petitioner shall pay a surcharge of five per cent (5%) of the unpaid amount plus interest at the rate of one percent (1%) a month, computed from the date this decision becomes final until paid, provided that the maximum amount that may be collected as interest shall not exceed the amount corresponding to a period of three (3) years ... (emphasis supplied)

The present petitions for review are limited to the sole issue of when payment by the Limpan Investment Corporation of the 5% monthly interest for delinquency did legally accrue.chanroblesvirtualawlibrarychanrobles virtual law library

Resolving the issue thus posed, we hold that portion of the judgment of the CTA which has the effect of fixing a new date for the payment of surcharges and interests is reversible error.chanroblesvirtualawlibrarychanrobles virtual law library

Section 51, paragraph (e) of the National Internal Revenue Code, as amended by Republic Act No. 2343, provides:chanrobles virtual law library

(e) Additions to the tax in case of non-payment. -

(1) Tax shown on the return. - Where the amount determined by the taxpayer as the tax imposed by this Title or any installment thereof, or any part of such amount or installment, is not paid on or before the date prescribed for its payment, there shall be collected as part of the tax, interest upon such unpaid amount at the rate of one per centum a month from the date prescribed for the payment until it is paid: Provided, That the maximum amount that may be collected as interest on deficiency shall in no case exceed the amount corresponding to a period of three years, the present provisions regarding prescription to the contrary notwithstanding.chanroblesvirtualawlibrarychanrobles virtual law library

(2) Deficiency. - Where a deficiency, or any interest assessed in connection therewith under paragraph (d) of this section, or any addition to the taxes provided for in section seventy-two of this Code is not paid in full within thirty days from the date of notice and demand from the Commissioner of Internal Revenue, there shall be collected upon the unpaid amount, as part of the tax, interest at the rate of one per centum a month from the date of such notice and demand until it is paid: Provided, That the maximum amount that may be collected as interest on deficiency shall in no case exceed the amount corresponding to a period of three years, the present provisions regarding prescription to the contrary notwithstanding.chanroblesvirtualawlibrarychanrobles virtual law library

(3) Surcharge. - If any amount of the tax included in the notice and demand from the Commissioner of Internal Revenue is not paid in full within thirty days after such notice and demand, there shall be collected in addition to the interest prescribed herein and in paragraph (d) above and as part of the tax a surcharge of five per centum of the amount of tax unpaid.

It is a cardinal rule of statutory construction that where the terms of the statute are clear and unambigous, no interpretation is called for, and the law is applied as written, ¹for application is the first duty of courts, and interpretation, only where literal application is impossible or inadequate. ²chanrobles virtual law library

The above legal provision make no distinctions nor does it establish exceptions. It directs the collection of the surcharge and interest at the stated rates upon any sum or sums due and unpaid after the dates prescribed in subsections (b), (c), and (d) of section 51 of the Act for the payment of the amounts due. The provision therefore is mandatory in case of delinquency. The intention of the law is precisely to discourage delay in payment of taxes due to the State and, in this sense, the surcharge and interest charged are not penal but compensatory in nature. They are compensation to the State for the delay in payment, or for the concomitant use of the funds by the taxpayer beyond the dates he should have paid them to the State. ³chanrobles virtual law library

In L-28571, interest shall be computed from September 7, 1962, the date of notice and demand, at 1% per month, for 3 years, no payment having been made within thirty days from such notice and demand. The surcharge of 5% accrued on failure to pay the deficiency tax due within thirty days from notice and demand. In L-28644, interest shall be computed from April 4, 1963, the date of notice and demand. The surcharge of 5% accrued on failure to pay the deficiency tax due within thirty days from notice and demand.chanroblesvirtualawlibrarychanrobles virtual law library

ACCORDINGLY, the judgments a quo are modified in the sense that the respondent Limpan Investment Corporation is hereby ordered (1) In L-28571, to pay to the Commissioner of Internal Revenue 5% surcharge on the interest on the said deficiency tax from September 7, 1962 to September 6, 1965; and (2) in L-28644, 5% surcharge on the 1960 deficiency tax from April 4, 1963 to April 3, 1966. As thus modified, the judgments a quo are affirmed. Costs in both instances against the respondent Limpan Investment Corporation.

Endnotes:

1 Luzon Stevedoring Corp. v. CTA, L-21005, Oct. 22, 1966; PAOCO v. CBP, L-21881, March 1, 1968.

2 De Quito v. Lopez, L-27757, March 28, 1968.

3 Castro v. Collector, etc., Resolution on Motion for Reconsideration, L-12174, Dec. 28, 1962.

4 Cf. Commissioner of Internal Revenue v. Abad, L-19627, June 27, 1968.