Filling out the SALN form can be a daunting task for someone who is doing this for the first time. A lot of questions can arise without the proper guidance especially if you don’t know the features of the form.
If you’re still unfamiliar with what the SALN is all about, it’s best to understand the basics of the SALN form to get you started.
But if you’re at the stage that you need more info to understand how to fill the SALN form, then this article is for you. Here’s a rundown of everything you need to know to fill out the SALN form.
Contents
What form should be used?
The prescribed form to use when filing is the version that was revised back in January 2015 per CSC Resolution No. 1500088 promulgated on January 23, 2015, which you can find right here.
What are the important features of the SALN form?
- The SALN form has been made ‘user-friendly’ so it is easy to fill up.
- Its legal basis is RA No. 6713 (Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees) only, because it is the later law compared to RA No. 3019 (Anti-Graft Corrupt Practices Act).
- There is a section in the SALN form where spouses who both work for the government may indicate if they want to file jointly or separately.
- The exact location of the property is required when declaring real properties on the form.
- The form clarifies that the Assessed Value and the Current Fair Market Value should be based on what is stated in the Tax Declaration of Real Property.
- Several sections such as the amount and sources of gross income, amount of personal and family expenses, and amount of income taxes paid have been removed from the previous form have been removed like the all of which were required to be declared under RA No. 3019 (Anti-Graft Corrupt Practices Act).
- The declaration of the nature of real properties is no longer required.
- The subcategories (tangible, intangible) under personal properties were removed.
- In the present form, the identification of relatives is required to be “to the best of my knowledge”. All other declarations are required to be ‘true and detailed.’
Filling out the SALN Form
How should declarant spouses who are both government workers file their SALN jointly?
All personal and real properties should be declared including their respective paraphernal and capital properties if there are any. The spouses may reproduce the SALN form after filling it out, but both signatures should be original in the SALN form to be submitted to their respective agencies.
If the declarant’s spouse is not in the government service, or if the declarant is unmarried, what box should the declarant tick off in the top portion of the SALN referring to joint or separate filing of the SALN Form?
The declarant shall tick off the box marked as “Not applicable.”
If my spouse is working in the private sector, is he/she still required to sign my SALN?
Yes, if the spouse is not a public officer or employee, the declarant shall still cause him/her to sign the SALN.
If the declarant was single during the preceding year and got married at the year of the filing of the SALN, what should be his/her status at the time of the filing of the SALN Form?
Since the SALN Form refers to the preceding year, the declarant would still be single upon filing. Therefore, their properties shall be declared as their own, and not community property or the property regime agreed upon at the time of marriage.
In the case of uniformed personnel, what should they indicate in the space requiring the position? Is it the rank or the designation?
Uniformed personnel is appointed to rank. Therefore, they should indicate their rank in the blank space for the position.
What is the meaning of “living in the declarant’s household”?
Actual presence in the residence of the declarant.
Are children who are supported by the declarant but living outside the household due to studies included in the declaration?
Yes, it includes dependent children who are temporarily staying apart from the declarant’s household due to studies.
Why do I need to declare the property of my spouse and unmarried children below (18) years of age living in my household?
It is required by law under RA No. 6713.
What is the basis for requiring the signature of the spouse?
It is required by law that the properties of the declarant’s spouse are disclosed. Therefore, they are required to certify the truthfulness of such a declaration.
If declarant and spouse are separated in fact or legally separated, is the declarant’s spouse still required to sign the SALN?
Yes. The declarant’s spouse is still required to sign the SALN Form since spouses who are legally separated are still considered husband and wife.
What if the said spouse refuses to sign the declarant’s SALN?
The declarant just has to attach an explanation why no signature of a spouse is present in the SALN.
What are the assessed value and current fair market value?
For purposes of the SALN, the amounts found in the tax declaration of real properties shall be used as the basis for the declaration.
How to declare mortgaged properties in the SALN Form?
Mortgaged properties are already under the name of the declarant. Hence, the mortgaged properties shall be declared either under real or personal properties. The acquisition cost to be declared shall be the actual purchase price. However, the declarant should declare the outstanding balance of the mortgage loan as of December 31 of the preceding year under Liabilities.
Should insurance policies be declared in the SALN?
Yes, under personal properties. The amount to be disclosed under acquisition cost shall be the amount already paid.
Should pensions be declared in the SALN?
Pensions received for the year of the declaration should be declared as personal property either cash on hand or cash in the bank, as the case may be.
Should shares of stock be declared in the SALN?
Yes, shares of stock are personal properties. The acquisition cost shall refer to the amount paid in acquiring the share of stock, not the total value thereof as of December 31 of the preceding year.
How are earnings and income from other sources declared?
These shall either form part of the declarant’s cash on hand or in the bank which shall be determined as of December 31 of the preceding year.
How to declare inherited properties?
By operation of law, inherited properties are transferred to the heirs. Therefore, even without a transfer of the property under the name of the declarant, the latter shall declare his/her share in the inherited properties as his/her assets.
For the acquisition cost, the declarant shall state zero. For real properties inherited, the declarant is required to provide the assessed value and current fair market value found in the tax declaration of the real properties concerned.
Do we have to declare minimal valued properties?
Yes, the law does not distinguish.
How do we declare minimal valued properties?
The declarant may declare minimal valued properties collectively, according to the nature/kind of the personal property like books; and the declarant may use “various years” as year acquired.
Is it not burdensome on the part of the declarant to declare all personal properties?
No, because properties of minimal value or with the same kind/nature may be declared in group/bulk.
Is there a ceiling on the price of property/properties that we declare?
R.A. No. 6713 does not provide for a ceiling on properties to be declared.
How should credit card liabilities be declared?
The outstanding balance as of December 31 of the preceding year shall be declared.
Do we need to declare personal loans and the names of the creditors?
Yes, it shall be declared under liabilities.
How do I distinguish between financial connection and business interest?
Business interests refer to declarant’s existing interest in any business enterprise or entity, aside from his/her income from the government while financial connections refer to declarant’s existing connections with any business enterprise or entity, whether as a consultant, adviser and the like, with an expectation of remuneration for services rendered.
What is the extent of the fourth civil degree of affinity and consanguinity?
- Relatives in the first degree of consanguinity include the declarant’s father, mother, son, and daughter.
- Relatives in the first degree of affinity will include the declarant’s father-in-law and mother-in-law.
- Relatives in the second degree of consanguinity include the declarant’s brother, sister, grandmother, grandfather, grandson, and granddaughter.
- Relatives in the second degree of affinity include the declarant’s brother-in-law, sister-in-law, grandmother-in-law, grandfather-in-law, granddaughter-in-law, and grandson-in-law.
- Relatives in the third degree of consanguinity include the declarant’s nephew, niece, uncle, and aunt. Relatives in the third degree of affinity include the declarant’s nephew-in-law, niece-in-law, uncle-in-law, auntie-in-law.
- Relatives in the fourth degree of consanguinity include the declarant’s first cousin.
Why do I need to declare Inso, Balae and Bilas?
It is required by the implementing rules of RA No. 6713, and it is included in the definition of relatives in the government under RA No. 6713.
Who are persons authorized to administer the oath?
The head of the agency has the authority to administer the oath for SALN purposes. However, the head of agency is allowed to delegate such authority provided the delegation of authority is put into writing.
Can a declarant take his/her oath before other persons authorized to administer oath such as notary public?
Yes.
What is the extent of authority given to the Ombudsman by virtue of the authorization executed together with the SALN?
The Ombudsman is authorized to obtain and secure from all appropriate government agencies, including the Bureau of Internal Revenue such documents that may show the declarant’s assets, liabilities, net worth, business interests, and financial connections.
Can the Office of the Ombudsman look into my bank accounts in private banks by virtue of the authorization in the SALN?
No, the authorization refers only to government agencies.
How about government banks which may be considered as “appropriate government agencies”, are they also covered by the authority given to the Ombudsman?
No, banks, whether government or not, are covered by a special law (Secrecy of Bank Deposit Act [RA No. 1405]), therefore, they are not included in the authorization.
Can the public request a copy of the SALN Form of a government official/employee?
Yes, as long as they comply with the rules governing access to SALNs provided by the repository agencies.
Please be guided accordingly. For any concerns, you can always check the Civil Service Commission’s official website for the latest news and updates.