Checklist 2025: steps to secure an income tax return without comments

1. The Income Tax return 2025: more than a procedure, a strategic management

Third category Income Tax not only implies complying with a formal obligation before SUNAT; it represents an instance of control over the fiscal and accounting health of the company. Every year, many companies submit technically correct but not optimized statements, exposing them to comments, objections or even paying more than necessary.

A statement without comments does not depend on luck or on the PDT format, but on prior, methodical and documented management.

Therefore, this 2025 Checklist summarizes the critical points that every company must review before submitting its annual affidavit.

2. Accounting-tax review: the starting point for avoiding contingencies

The first step toward a solid return is to ensure accounting and tax reconciliation. This means that financial statements under IFRS must align with the tax base. Errors in this process result in uncontrolled temporary or permanent differences, which result in undue payments or future redress.

Check:

• That the accounting provisions are properly supported and deducted in accordance with Article 37 of the LIR.
• That depreciations and amortizations are recorded according to the limits and methods allowed by the standard.
• That non-deductible items (fines, personal expenses, unauthorized donations) are clearly identified.

3. Evaluation of deductible and non-deductible income tax items

This step is one of the most sensitive.
Article 37 of the LIR and its regulations establish deductible expenses, but their practical interpretation requires technical judgment.

Common errors detected in tax audits:

• Representation expenses without valid receipts or outside the limit of 0.5% of net income.
• Bonuses or remuneration without contractual support.
• Losses due to uncredited claims.
• Financial expenses that are not directly related to income generation.

Recommendation: apply the principle of causality with reliable documentation and keep an internal record of voluntary complaints.

4. Review of tax credits, on-account payments and compensable losses

The control of tax credits and accumulated losses is a point of tax savings that is often wasted.

Check:

• Compensations for on-account payments and withholding applied to the period.
• Appropriate use of balances in favor of the previous year.
• Correct application of the carrying down of tax losses (System A or B).

Poor control of these elements not only increases the tax, but also prevents the recovery of the liquidity to which the company is entitled.

5. IFRS review and reconciliation of the accounting result with the tax base

IFRS have a direct impact on the determination of Income Tax.
Differences between accounting and tax results must be identified and reconciled (for example, impairments, provisions, accrued income, leases, and others).

Inadequate reconciliation results in inappropriate adjustments or the omission of deductible expenses.
Therefore, the accounting area and the tax area must work in a coordinated manner at this stage.

6. Documentary control and reliable support

Every figure in the declaration must be supported by verifiable documents: electronic receipts, contracts, technical reports, certificates and payment supports.
SUNAT may request this information even years after the end of the financial year.

Practical recommendation:

• Maintain a digital repository for tax support.
• Ensure the traceability of each expense and its relationship with income generation.
• Verify that the electronic receipts correspond to the declared period.

7. Determination and analysis of the effective rate of Income Tax

The effective tax rate (TEI) is an essential indicator of tax efficiency. If your TEI significantly exceeds the average for your industry, there are probably tax inefficiencies or unapplied deductions.

A comparative analysis makes it possible to identify tax shields—such as deductible interest, accelerated depreciation or sectoral benefits—that can optimize the tax burden without violating the rule.

8. Preventive tax audit before the shipment of DJ 2025

A preventive tax audit performed before the return is submitted may reveal hidden contingencies or omitted deductions. In addition, it validates the consistency of financial information and its documentary support, strengthening internal control and reducing future risks.

EBS Abogados recommends carrying out this review between January and March 2025, before the deadline for filing.