Philippines eyes 10 double taxation agreements

Upgrade to High-Speed Internet for only ₱1499/month!

Enjoy up to 100 Mbps fiber broadband, perfect for browsing, streaming, and gaming.

Visit Suniway.ph to learn

June 9, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine government is pursuing 10 double taxation agreements (DTA) with various countries, following last month’s signing of a renegotiated agreement with Japan, according to the Department of Finance (DOF).

Finance Secretary Frederick Go confirmed the government’s double taxation treaty push in a text message to The STAR: “Yes, there are several. We support DTAs in general.”

“There are 10 in process,” he added. However, that timelines remain unpredictable as these also depend on the pace and cooperation of partner countries.

Go noted that these are in different stages – some in early negotiations while others are close to signing.

The country currently has around 40 DTAs with several countries, according to data from the Bureau of Internal Revenue.

These tax treaties prevent the burden of double taxation on individuals and businesses operating across borders.

Eleanor Roque, tax principal at P&A Grant Thornton said DTAs are important for foreign investors, saying such treaties provide preferential tax treatment on income streams like business profits, interest, royalties, dividends and capital gains.

“Normally, when a foreign investor is thinking of investing in the Philippines, one of the questions they ask is whether the Philippines has an existing DTA,” she said.

Roque added that DTAs not only lower tax rates or grant exemptions but also provide certainty in cross-border taxation.

“It is important as it also offers certainty in the taxation of income earned in the Philippines as it provides rules for the taxation of a resident of a treaty country,” she said.

The tax expert pointed to Hong Kong, Taiwan, Saudi Arabia and Ireland as priority jurisdictions where the Philippines should pursue treaties.

BIR Commissioner Charlito Mendoza said the BIR is open to amending the 45-year-old DTA between the Philippines and Pakistan, following a meeting with Ambassador Asima Rabbani.

Mendoza said the agency is prepared to consider proposals to update the treaty, which has been in force since 1981, should both the Philippine DOF and the Pakistani Ministry of Finance deem revisions necessary.