Guides
Practical PH compliance reference, refreshed quarterly.
Step-by-step walkthroughs of the rules every PH professional services firm has to get right. We cite primary sources — BIR rulings, DOLE issuances, Labor Code articles, RA numbers — because vague is worse than wrong.
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DOLE · Last reviewed May 11, 2026 · 12 min read
13th-Month Pay in the Philippines — Rules, Formula, and Common Mistakes
Complete guide to 13th-month pay under PD 851. Who qualifies, what counts as basic salary, how to prorate for mid-year hires and resignations, the ₱90K TRAIN tax-exempt ceiling, and the December 24 deadline.
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BIR · Last reviewed May 11, 2026 · 14 min read
BIR Form 2316 Explained — A Step-by-Step Guide for PH Professional Services Firms
Comprehensive walkthrough of BIR Form 2316 — what it is, what goes into each line, the common reconciliation mistakes that produce wrong refunds or unexpected top-ups, and when to expect each. Plus the automation case for firms with mixed-engagement workforces.
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Foreign Workforce · Last reviewed May 11, 2026 · 11 min read
Foreign Contractors in the Philippines — Tax, Payment, and Compliance for PH Firms Hiring Across Borders
How Philippine professional services firms should structure foreign contractor relationships — tax treatment, payment rails (Wise, Payoneer, bank wire), BIR Form 2307, common misclassification risks, and what changes when a contractor crosses the 183-day residence threshold.
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SSS · Last reviewed May 11, 2026 · 13 min read
SSS Contributions in the Philippines — 2025 Rates, MSC Brackets, and What Employers Get Wrong
How SSS contributions work under RA 11199 — the 2025 rate (15% total), Monthly Salary Credit mechanics, the employer's EC premium, the Mandatory Provident Fund for higher earners, remittance deadlines, and the mistakes that get assessed in SSS audits.
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DOLE · Last reviewed May 11, 2026 · 14 min read
Separation Pay in the Philippines — Causes, Computation, and the Procedural Rules That Decide Whether You Actually Pay
A walkthrough of Philippine separation pay under Labor Code Articles 297, 298, and 299. Five authorized causes, the 1.0× and 0.5× multipliers, the 6-month rounding rule, NIRC tax exemption for involuntary separations, the twin-notice rule, and the constructive-dismissal trap that converts a "just cause" termination into a full retrenchment payout.
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Hiring in Philippines · Last reviewed May 11, 2026 · 16 min read
How to Hire in the Philippines — A Guide for Foreign Companies (EOR vs Own Entity vs Direct Hire vs Marketplace)
The four ways foreign companies can hire Philippine talent — Employer of Record, owning a PH entity, direct hire managed through a PH workforce platform, or a curated marketplace. Tradeoffs, costs, compliance, and how to choose.
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