Manila, Oct. 24 -- The Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) has ordered the local arm of multinational chemicals firm BASF (Phils) to pay PHP10.2 million in back taxes for the taxable year 2017.

In a 44-page decision dated Oct. 21, the CTA's Second Division likewise ordered the firm to pay delinquency interest at the rate of 12 percent per annum, or PHP3,289 computed from Feb. 26, 2021, until full payment.

The assessments are for deficiency income tax, expanded withholding tax (EWT), and withholding tax on compensation (WTC) for 2017.

The court rejected the firm's arguments that the assessments were void because the Bureau of Internal Revenue allegedly failed to observe due process in converting the preliminary assessment notice (PAN) into a for...