How Much Will Kris Aquino Pay for Giving Boy Abunda A Hummer: (Philippine Donor’s Tax 101)

Last Updated on April 13, 2017 by Marie Bautista

By this time, this Instagram photo must be very familiar to you.

Two weeks ago, Kris Aquino gave co-host, Boy Abunda, a Hummer.

(Wish lang nating she is our friend din, ano? )

“Because he is my best friend, because I’m so grateful he’s alive & because I want to make him happy. I gave Boy the Hummer tonight after A&A. Uulitin ko, kulang pa this gift because sobra sobra ang pagmamahal, pagtiwala at pag-aasikasong naibigay at patuloy na binibigay niya sa kin. Together w/ my brother & my 2 sons, it’s with Boy that I continue to experience the gift of true & unconditional love. #throughtheyears #iloveboyabunda”

A couple of days later, I heard Kris blurting on A&A (their nightly talk show) about Boy having to pay the transfer tax because she doesn’t want to get in trouble with the Bureau of Internal Revenue.

What Transfer Tax is Kris talking about?

She must be talking about Donor’s Tax. It is a tax on the voluntary transfer of property without consideration, between two or more persons who are living at the time of the transfer, which property was delivered, and accepted by the donee.

On to the boring (but informative) deets (by the way, if you want to know how much the donor’s tax should be, scroll down the post)…


Meaning of Consideration:

• The word “consideration” means that, when the transferor gives something away and does not at the same time replace it with money of equal value or some goods or services capable of being valuated in money, he is deemed to have made a gift within the taxing law (Commissioner v. Bristol 121 F(2d)129)
• Consideration must be measurable in money or money’s worth.  Mere legal consideration is not sufficient.

When does a Gift occur?

A gift occurs when the donor surrenders CONTROL over the property.  In this case, Kris is surrendering her control over the Hummer.  If the donor retains an unlimited power to revoke a gift, no gift has occurred.

If the donor does not relinquish control over the property during his lifetime, meaning you can only get the property after the donor dies, the donation is a donation mortis causa subject to the estate tax.

Composition of the Gross Gift:

• Only properties upon which the donor divests himself of CONTROL during his lifetime
• Residents and Citizens – All properties wherever situated can be donated
• Non-resident Aliens – Only properties situated in the Philippines can be donated, provided that, with respect to intangible personal properties, we follow the rule of reciprocity

Rules on Valuing the Gift:

• Fair Market Value of property donated
• Real property – higher value between the FMV determined by the CIR and the FMV as shown in the schedule of values fixed by the Provincial and Coty Assessors
• Personal property recently acquired by the donor – purchase price may indicate FMV
• In case of shares of stocks, the FMV will depend on whether or not the shares are traded in the Stock Exchange.  For traded shares – arithmetic mean between highest and lowest quotation.  For unlisted shares – common shares-book value, preferred shares-par value

So Boy needs to pay transfer tax pala for the Hummer he received?

According to the Tax Code, the one who gave the gift should be the one paying the donor’s tax.  In this case, Kris, as the donor, should be the one paying the donor’s tax.

How much will the Donor’s Tax on the “Hummer gift” be?

Assuming that the value of the Hummer is P7,000,000.00, the Donor’s Tax Due will be P2,100,000.00.

Seriously??? That’s like 30% of the value!!! (Ang mahal din pala ng pagmamahal!)

Yep, folks, the Donor’s Tax Due is 30% of the Fair Market Value of the gift.

Bakit ang laki?


The Donor’s Tax Rate is this high because the Donee (Boy) is a STRANGER.


But Kris said that “Together w/ my brother & my 2 sons, it’s with Boy that I continue to experience the gift of true & unconditional love.”, right?  Boy surely is not a stranger!

According to the 1997 Tax Code, as amended, a stranger is a person who is not a:

• Brother, sister (whether by whole or half blood), spouse, ancestor and lineal descendant; or
• Relative by consanguinity in the collateral line within the fourth degree of relationship. 

What about a legally adopted child? A legally adopted child is entitled to all the rights and obligations provided by law to legitimate children, and therefore, donation to him shall not be considered as donation made to a stranger.

What if your father decides to donate a property to you?

Since you are NOT a stranger, your father will be subject to the graduated donor’s tax rates of 2% to 15%.  The first P100,000.00 of net gift is exempt.

Computation:  Value of Gift – P7,000,000.00

Donor’s Tax Due:   Tax on P5,000,000.00                 P404,000.00

                             Tax on Excess of P2,000,000.00*  240,000.00

Donor’s Tax Due                                                        P644,000.00

(mas mura if blood relatives, right?)

Filing of the Donor’s Tax Return:

So how should the Donor’s Tax Return Be Filed, what form shall be used, when and where will the filing be made?

The donor will file the return using BIR Form 1800 (Donor’s Tax Return) within 30 days from the Date of Donation at an/the:

1. Authorized Agent Bank or
2. Revenue District Office, Revenue Collection Officer or duly authorized Treasurer of the city or municipality where the donor was domiciled at the time of the transfer

Marie