Normally, it is the seller who pays for the capital gains tax/creditable withholding tax, however, there’s no exact provision in the law as to who will shoulder for the expenses of the sale, it’s always upon the agreement of the parties concerned and there enters the indispensable role of a contract. Provided further that before signing any agreement, make sure to read the entire provisions, since maybe an item you missed will have a big deal in the future. Writing it down doesn’t mean that the element of trust isn’t there, it’s a matter of preserving your interest so in case of conflict in the future there is a document to guard and protect you. When you are buying a million worth of property, it always follows that you have something as a proof that payment has been made as well as conveyance of ownership, otherwise you are just throwing away your money for property which is only half yours. While, there are instances wherein some choose not to write down every agreement because of the trust reposed towards the other party, always remember that writing it down is a necessity no matter how simple the agreement is. Maybe it’s one of the reasons why Statutes of Frauds provides that agreements to be enforceable needs to be in writing and subscribed by both parties, like an agreement in real estate. Vox emissa volat litera scripta manet– Words spoken vanish the written letter remains. MAKE SURE TO SET DOWN EVERYTHING IN BLACK AND WHITE