The Taxation subject in the CPA board exam heavily tests the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law and the newer CREATE MORE Act. This guide covers the key provisions you need to know for the exam.
TRAIN Law Overview (RA 10963)
The Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law, signed into law on December 19, 2017, represents the first package of the Comprehensive Tax Reform Program (CTRP). It significantly overhauled the Philippine tax system.
Key Objectives of TRAIN Law
- Simplify the tax system
- Make it more equitable
- Generate revenues for infrastructure and social services
- Lower personal income tax rates for most Filipinos
Individual Income Tax Under TRAIN Law
Tax Table for Compensation Income (Effective January 1, 2023 onwards)
Per RA 10963 Section 5, the graduated income tax rates for individuals are:
Exam Tip: The ₱250,000 tax-exempt threshold is a favorite board exam question. Remember: those earning ₱250,000 or below annually pay ZERO income tax.
Self-Employed and Professionals
Self-employed individuals and professionals have two options under TRAIN:
Option 1: Graduated Rates
- Use the same tax table above
- Deduct either:
- Itemized deductions (actual business expenses), OR
- Optional Standard Deduction (OSD) of 40% of gross sales/receipts
Option 2: 8% Flat Rate
- Available if gross sales/receipts do not exceed ₱3,000,000
- 8% of gross sales/receipts in excess of ₱250,000
- In lieu of graduated rates AND percentage tax
- Cannot use this option if VAT-registered
Minimum Wage Earners
Per RA 10963 Section 24:
- Statutory Minimum Wage earners are EXEMPT from income tax
- Also exempt from withholding tax on wages
- Holiday pay, overtime pay, night shift differential, and hazard pay are also tax-exempt
Estate Tax Under TRAIN Law
Single Rate of 6%
TRAIN simplified estate tax to a single rate of 6% of the net estate (previously a graduated scale of 5-20%).
Standard Deduction
Key Change: Previously, the standard deduction was only ₱1,000,000. TRAIN increased this significantly.
Net Estate Computation
Gross Estate
Less: Deductions
- Claims against the estate
- Claims against insolvent persons
- Unpaid mortgages/debts
- Property previously taxed (vanishing deduction)
- Transfers for public use
- Standard deduction (₱5,000,000)
- Family home (up to ₱10,000,000)
- Amount received under RA 4917 (retirement)
- Net share of surviving spouse
= Net Estate × 6% = Estate Tax Due
Donor's Tax Under TRAIN Law
Single Rate of 6%
Similar to estate tax, donor's tax was simplified to a flat 6% of the total gifts in excess of ₱250,000 (previously graduated rates).
Exempt Donations
The following donations are exempt from donor's tax:
- Gifts made to the National Government or any of its agencies
- Gifts to educational and/or charitable, religious, cultural, or social welfare institutions (accredited)
- Donations to political parties (subject to limits under election laws)
Computation Formula
Total Gifts During the Calendar Year
Less: ₱250,000 (exempt amount)
= Taxable Gifts × 6% = Donor's Tax Due
Board Exam Tip: Donor's tax is imposed on a per-donor basis, not per-donee. If you give ₱200,000 to each of 3 people (₱600,000 total), your taxable gift is ₱600,000 - ₱250,000 = ₱350,000.
Value-Added Tax (VAT) Under TRAIN
VAT Threshold
Per RA 10963 Section 109:
VAT Rate
- Standard VAT rate: 12%
- VAT-exempt transactions exist (essential goods, services)
VAT-Exempt Transactions (Key Items)
Per RA 10963 Section 109:
- Sale of agricultural/marine food products in original state
- Educational services by accredited private institutions
- Medical, dental, hospital, and veterinary services
- Services rendered by individuals earning ≤₱3M gross receipts
- Residential lot (≤₱1,500,000) and house & lot (≤₱2,500,000)
Percentage Tax Under TRAIN
3% Percentage Tax
For non-VAT registered persons/entities with gross sales/receipts not exceeding ₱3,000,000:
- Rate: 3% of gross quarterly sales/receipts
- Filed quarterly using BIR Form 2551Q
Note: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the rate was temporarily reduced to 1% under the Bayanihan Acts. The rate has since returned to 3%.
Documentary Stamp Tax (DST) Changes
TRAIN doubled most DST rates. Key items for the board exam:
Excise Tax on Petroleum Products
TRAIN implemented gradual increases in excise taxes on petroleum:
Excise Tax on Sugar-Sweetened Beverages
TRAIN introduced excise tax on sweetened beverages:
CREATE MORE Act (RA 12066)
The Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises to Maximize Opportunities for Reinvigorating the Economy (CREATE MORE) Act was signed into law on November 11, 2024. It amends the CREATE Law (RA 11534) and the National Internal Revenue Code.
Key Provisions of CREATE MORE
1. Reduced Corporate Income Tax Rate
The regular corporate income tax (RCIT) rate remains at 25% for domestic corporations.
For domestic corporations with:
- Net taxable income ≤ ₱5,000,000, AND
- Total assets ≤ ₱100,000,000
The rate is 20%.
2. Enhanced Fiscal Incentives
CREATE MORE provides enhanced incentives for registered business enterprises (RBEs):
Income Tax Holiday (ITH)
- 4 to 7 years depending on industry tier and location
Special Corporate Income Tax (SCIT)
- 5% on gross income earned in lieu of all national and local taxes
- Available after ITH period
Enhanced Deductions (ED)
- 150% to 200% additional deductions for:
- Labor expenses
- Research and development
- Training expenses
- Domestic input expenses
3. VAT Incentives for Exporters
- VAT zero-rating on local purchases directly attributable to export activities
- Streamlined VAT refund process (90-day processing)
4. Expanded Coverage
CREATE MORE expands coverage to include:
- E-commerce entities conducting cross-border digital services
- Regional headquarters (RHQs) converting to regional operating headquarters
- Domestic market enterprises in priority sectors
CREATE MORE vs. Original CREATE Law
Board Exam Application
Sample Problem 1: Individual Income Tax
Mr. Santos, a CPA, earned ₱1,500,000 gross receipts from his accounting practice in 2025. His allowable business expenses totaled ₱400,000. Compute his income tax using the graduated rates with OSD.
Solution:
Gross Receipts: ₱1,500,000
Less: OSD (40% × ₱1,500,000): (600,000)
Taxable Income: ₱900,000
Tax Computation (2023 onwards table):
On first ₱800,000: ₱102,500
On excess (₱900,000 - ₱800,000):
₱100,000 × 25%: 25,000
Total Income Tax Due: ₱127,500
Sample Problem 2: Estate Tax
Mrs. Reyes died leaving the following properties: Real property (₱15,000,000), Bank deposits (₱3,000,000), Family home (₱12,000,000). Claims against the estate total ₱1,000,000. Compute the estate tax.
Solution:
Gross Estate:
Real Property: ₱15,000,000
Bank Deposits: 3,000,000
Total Gross Estate: ₱18,000,000
Less: Deductions:
Claims against estate: (1,000,000)
Standard Deduction: (5,000,000)
Family Home (max ₱10M): (10,000,000)
Total Deductions: (16,000,000)
Net Estate: ₱2,000,000
Estate Tax (6%): ₱120,000
Sample Problem 3: Donor's Tax
Mr. Cruz donated the following during 2025: ₱300,000 to his son, ₱200,000 to his daughter, ₱500,000 to his brother. Compute the donor's tax.
Solution:
Total Donations:
To son: ₱300,000
To daughter: 200,000
To brother: 500,000
Total: ₱1,000,000
Less: Exempt amount: (250,000)
Taxable Gifts: ₱750,000
Donor's Tax (6%): ₱45,000
Key Takeaways for the Board Exam
- Income Tax: Know the ₱250,000 threshold and the graduated rates (2023 onwards)
- Estate Tax: Single 6% rate, ₱5M standard deduction, ₱10M family home max
- Donor's Tax: Single 6% rate, ₱250,000 exempt per calendar year per donor
- VAT: ₱3,000,000 threshold for mandatory registration, 12% rate
- CREATE MORE: 25% RCIT (20% for small corps), fiscal incentives for RBEs
Practice with Confidence
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Sources
- RA 10963 - Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law - Official Gazette
- RA 12066 - CREATE MORE Act - Official Gazette
- RA 11534 - Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) Act - Official Gazette
- BIR Revenue Regulations - Bureau of Internal Revenue
- BOA Resolution No. 30, Series of 2022 - CPALE Taxation syllabus
Last updated: January 2026. Tax rates and thresholds are current as of the latest BIR issuances.