BIR extends tax filing deadline anew

MANILA, Philippines — Companies and individuals have been given more time to file their various tax returns and make the corresponding payments as the enhanced community quarantine in the National Capital Region (NCR) and nearby provinces  has been extended anew, according to the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez and Internal Revenue Commissioner Caesar Dulay issued Internal Revenue Regulation 11 – 2020 dated April 29 extending the statutory deadlines and timelines for the filing and submission of any document and the payment of taxes pursuant to the provisions of Republic Act 11469 or the Bayanihan to Heal As One Act.

This is the third time the deadline for the filing of income tax returns (ITRs) and various documents as well as the corresponding payments was extended due to the   coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19 outbreak.

Dulay cited the existence of a national emergency arising from   the contagion as well as the extension of the quarantine period until May 15 as the reasons behind giving companies and individuals more time to pay their taxes.

The deadlines have been moved several times as the  Luzon-wide quarantine   imposed by Malacañang on March 16 was extended  to April 30 and by another two weeks to May 15.

The reprieve, according to the DOF and BIR, would provide relief to Filipinos and companies badly affected by business closures amid the lockdown in Luzon and other provinces.

Among those extended by the new regulation is the due date for the filing of annual income tax returns (ITR) of individuals and corporations for the calendar year ending Dec. 31, 2019, which is now moved anew to June 14 instead of May 30.

Initially, the due date for ITRs and the payment of corresponding taxes was extended from April 15 to May 15 and then to May 30.

The filing of the annual ITR of corporations with fiscal year ending Dec. 31, 2019 was moved to June from May 30.

The regulation also covers monthly and quarterly value-added tax declarations, documentary stamp tax declarations, excise tax returns and withholding taxes on compensation, among others.

Meanwhile, the issuance stated that other tax documents, such as the donor’s tax return and the estate tax return, are now due 30 days from the date of lifting of the enhanced community quarantine.

Moreover, the BIR also  extended the deadline for the availment of the tax amnesty on delinquencies to June 22 instead of June 8. The deadline for the program was initially moved from the original deadline of April 23 to May 23.