The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has extended the deadline for filing income tax returns (ITR) to May 15 as the nation deals with the 2019 (COVID-19) coronavirus epidemic.
Revenue Memorandum Circular (RMC) 28-2020 was released by the BIR today, March 19, 2020.
The development was first announced by Senator “Bong” Go in a statement today.
“This will give our people a chance to focus on their safety and the welfare of their family at this crucial time. After we overcome this health situation, we trust that they will faithfully fulfill their tax obligations,” Go said.
Senate President Vicente Sotto III said on Wednesday that Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III will act on calls to extend the April 15 deadline for ITR’s annual filing, after the BRI had previously ruled out an extension given the country’s COVID-19 outbreak.
Under Revenue Memorandum Circular (RMC) No. 25-, released on March 16 by BIR Commissioner Caesar Dulay, “the filing of the annual ITR for the calendar year 2019 shall not be extended” given the government’s strict quarantine over the whole of Luzon.
Previously, Dominguez also clarified that the annual deadline of April 15 for filing ITRs can not be extended under the 1997 Tax Code or National Internal Revenue Code.
President Rodrigo Duterte put the whole of Luzon under an enhanced community quarantine, as COVID-19 cases continue to increase in the country.
In the midst of the epidemic the Philippines is still in a state of calamity.
There are so far 202 positive COVID-19 patients in the Philippines.
Seventeen patients have died while seven have recovered.
