Domingo vs. Lorenzo 8 Scra 443

Domingo vs. Garlitos 8 SCRA 443

FACTS: In Domingo vs. Moscoso, the Supreme Court declared at final and executor the order of the court of first i nstance of Leyte for the payment of estate and inheritance taxes, charges and penalties amounting to ₱ 40, 058.55 by the estate of the late Walter Scott Pine. He petition for execution filed by the fiscal, however, was denied by the lower court the court held that the execution is unjustified as the government itself is indebted to the estate for 262,200; and ordered the amount of inheritance taxes be deducted from the governments’ indebtedness to the estate. Issues: Can there be legal compensation? Ruling: Yes. The fact that the court having jurisdiction of the estate had found that the claim of the estate against the government has been appropriated for the purpose by a corresponding law ( RA 2700) shows that both the claim of the government for inheritance taxes and the claim of the intestate for services regarded have already become overdue and demandable as well as fully liquidated. Compensation, Compensation, therefore, take place place by operation operation of  law, in accordance with the provisions of article 1279 and 1290 of the civil code, and both debts are extinguished to the amount.

Exception: SC allowed set off in the case of Domingo v. Garlitos [8 SCRA 443 ] re: claim for payment of unpaid services of a government employee vis-à-vis the estate taxes due from his estate. The fact that the court having jurisdiction of the estate had found that the claim of the estate against the government has been appropriated for the purpose by a corresponding law shows that both the claim of the government for inheritance taxes and the claim of the intestate for services rendered have already become overdue and demandable as well as fully liquidated. Compensation Compensation therefore takes place by operation of law.