Cir vs. General Foods Inc.

#8 G.R. No.
143672 April 24, 2003
COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, petitioner, vs. GENERAL FOODS

(PHILS.), INC., respondent.
CORONA, J.:
FACTS:
Petitioner Commissioner of Internal Revenue (Commissioner) assails the resolution of

the Court of Appeals reversing the decision of the Court of Tax Appeals which in turn denied the
protest filed by respondent General Foods (Phils.), Inc., regarding the assessment made against
the latter for deficiency taxes.
General Foods, manufacturer of beverages such as “Tang,” “Calumet” and “Kool-Aid,”

filed its income tax return for the fiscal year ending February 28, 1985. In said tax return, it
claimed as a deduction for business expenses, the amount of P9,461,246 for media advertising
for “Tang.”
The Commissioner disallowed 50% or P4,730,623 of the deduction claimed by

respondent corporation.
The parties are in agreement that the subject advertising expense was paid or incurred
within the corresponding taxable year and was incurred in carrying on a trade or business.
Hence, it was necessary. However, their views conflict as to whether or not it was ordinary.
To be deductible, an advertising expense should not only be necessary but also ordinary.
These two requirements must be met.
The Commissioner maintains that the subject advertising expense was not ordinary on the
ground that it failed the two conditions set by U.S. jurisprudence:
a) “reasonableness” of the amount incurred; and

b) the amount incurred must not be a capital outlay to create “goodwill” for the
product and/or private respondent’s business.
Otherwise, the expense must be considered a capital expenditure to be spread out over a
reasonable time.
Consequently, General Foods was assessed deficiency income taxes in the amount of
P2,635, 141.42. The latter filed a motion for reconsideration but the same was denied.
On September 1989, General Foods appealed to the Court of Tax Appeals but the appeal
was dismissed.
General foods, filed a petition for review with the Court of Appeals which rendered a
decision reversing and setting aside the decision of the CTA: claiming that the deduction was not
sufficiently established as excessive.
ISSUE:
Whether or not the subject media advertising expense for “Tang” was ordinary and
necessary expense fully deductible under the National Internal Revenue Code (NIRC).
HELD:
No. Court of Appeals committed reversible error when it declared the subject media
advertising expense to be deductible as an ordinary and necessary expense on the ground that “it
has not been established that the item being claimed as deduction is excessive.
The court finds the subject expense for the advertisement of a single product to be
inordinately large. Therefore, even if it is necessary, it cannot be considered an ordinary expense
deductible under then Section 29 (a) (1) (A) of the NIRC.
The P9,461,246 media advertising expense for the promotion of a single product, almost
one-half of petitioner corporation’s entire claim for marketing expenses for that year, inclusive of
other advertising and promotion expenses of P2,678,328 and P1,548,614 for consumer
promotion, is doubtlessly unreasonable.
Furthermore, the subject advertising expense was of the second kind. Not only was the
amount staggering; Gen Foods also admitted that the subject media expense was incurred in
order to protect its brand franchise.
The protection of brand franchise is analogous to the maintenance of goodwill or title to

one’s property. To protect its brand franchise was tantamount to efforts to establish a reputation.
This was akin to the acquisition of capital assets and therefore expenses related thereto were not
to be considered as business expenses but as capital expenditures
Hence, the court considers that the subject advertising expense as a capital outlay since it
created goodwill for its business and/or product.
Court of Appeals decision REVERSED and SET ASIDE. Pursuant to Sections 248 and
249 of the Tax Code, respondent General Foods (Phils.), Inc. is hereby ordered to pay its
deficiency income tax in the amount of P2,635,141.42, plus 25% surcharge for late payment and
20% annual interest computed from August 25, 1989, the date of the denial of its protest, until
the same is fully paid.
DOCTRINE:
1. Deductions for income tax purposes partake of the nature of tax exemptions; hence, if tax
exemptions are strictly construed, then deductions must also be strictly construed.
2. To be deductible from gross income, the subject advertising expense must comply with
the following requisites:
a. the expense must be ordinary and necessary;
b. it must have been paid or incurred during the taxable year;
c. it must have been paid or incurred in carrying on the trade or business of the
taxpayer; and
d. it must be supported by receipts, records or other pertinent papers
3. Advertising is generally of two kinds:

a. 1st kind: Advertising to stimulate the current sale of merchandise or use of
service: except as to the question of the reasonableness of amount, there is no
doubt such expenditures are deductible as business expenses.
b. 2nd kind: Advertising designed to stimulate the future sale of merchandise or use
of services: The second type involves expenditures incurred, in whole or in part,
to create or maintain some form of goodwill for the taxpayer’s trade or business
or for the industry or profession of which the taxpayer is a member.
If, however, the expenditures are for advertising of the second kind, then normally they should
be spread out over a reasonable period of time.

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#8 G.R. No.

143672 April 24, 2003

COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, petitioner, vs. GENERAL FOODS

Petitioner Commissioner of Internal Revenue (Commissioner) assails the resolution of

General Foods, manufacturer of beverages such as “Tang,” “Calumet” and “Kool-Aid,”

The Commissioner disallowed 50% or P4,730,623 of the deduction claimed by

a) “reasonableness” of the amount incurred; and

The protection of brand franchise is analogous to the maintenance of goodwill or title to

3. Advertising is generally of two kinds:

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