Tax Articles

A Tradition of Tax Expertise: Celebrating 16 Years of BDB Law

By Atty. Benedicta Du-Baladad

Benedicta Du-Baladad Founding Partner and CEO   +632 8403-2001 loc.300 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. View Profile

Today, we mark BDB Law’s 16th anniversary. It’s hard to believe how far we’ve come. What started as a small team with a big commitment to professionalizing tax practice has grown into something none of us could have fully imagined back in 2009. More than anything, we are thankful for those who have supported us from the beginning, for those who have joined us at some point, and are with us up to this day.

Many people believe that tax law is intricate and dynamic. Over the years, we’ve worked to make it just a little more understandable for businesses, professionals, and ordinary taxpayers. By sharing knowledge rather than just advice, our team has continuously pushed to go beyond client work.

That commitment shows up in many ways. Over the past decade, we’ve published a series of tax reference books designed to make core principles and updated rulings easier to digest. These include the Philippine National Internal Revenue Code (NIRC), Taxation of Banks and Non-Bank Financial Intermediaries, Taxation of Insurance Companies in the Philippines, and Taxation of Financial Institutions in the Philippines. These titles have reached a wide range of readers, students, accountants, lawyers, and business owners, each looking to understand the ground they stand on.

This year, we’re especially proud to be launching the fifth edition of the NIRC. It incorporates the latest tax laws, including the Ease of Paying Taxes Act (R.A. No. 11976), Digital Services Tax Act (R.A. No. 12023), CREATE MORE Act (R.A. No. 12066), Real Property Valuation and Assessment Reform Act (R.A. No. 12001), VAT Refund for Tourists Act (R.A. No. 12079), and the Capital Markets Efficiency Promotion Act (R.A. No. 12214). More than just a compilation, this edition includes our commentary and insights to help readers better understand how these changes are likely to affect both practice and compliance. As with all our publications, the goal remains the same: to make the law clearer and more usable for those who rely on it.

That same goal of making tax knowledge more accessible also influenced how we approached the pandemic.

During the pandemic, we adapted quickly, launching a free online webinar series that continues to this day. What started out as a means of providing guidance during a confusing time has grown into a regular platform where we discuss new tax regulations and clarify gray areas. As in-person events resumed, we also brought back onsite seminars to continue engaging with professionals and entrepreneurs, something we’ve always valued.

Through regular advisories, we've also made it a point to keep our community updated on BIR issuances, new tax laws, and significant court rulings that could have an impact on compliance. We approach each advisory as a public service because we understand how crucial timing and clarity are in the tax industry.

We’ve also continued to shed light on relevant developments, updates, and insights into tax law. Whether it’s landmark rulings, legislative changes, or compliance reminders, we strive to bring readers not just the headlines, but the context and implications behind as applied to the intricacies of their businesses.

Sixteen years seems to be a long time. But to us, this is only the beginning in many ways. As a team, we have experienced setbacks, breakthroughs, long nights, and victories that have sustained us and kept us stronger.

To all of our clients, readers, partners, colleagues, mentors, and friends, thank you. Thank you for your trust, your questions, your feedback, and your continued belief in what we do.

On behalf of everyone at BDB Law, we’re honored to be part of this community.

Here’s to 16 years—and to whatever comes next.