BIR Extends Tax Filing to May 15

The Bureau of Internal Revenue extends its deadline for the filing of the 2019 annual Income Tax Returns (ITR) to May 15, 2020 but nonetheless appealed to those ready to file their ITRs on or before the original April 15 deadline to do so, in order to help the government raise enough funds for the scaled-up national efforts to slow the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 or known as COVID-19.

The said emergency measure was implemented to provide relief to Filipino taxpayers who didn’t have the chance to prepare, let alone file, the necessary ITR documents on or before the original annual deadline which is on April 15. Work time adjustments, community quarantine and other safety measures were implemented to contain the pandemic.

According to Revenue Memorandum Circular (RMC) signed by BIR Commissioner Caesar Dulay on March 18, the one month extension has been granted without the imposition of penalties to taxpayers.

Meanwhile, the government is appealing to those who are able to file within the deadline to do so through the mechanisms available, including online filing and payment platforms.

Tax payments are crucial as of the moment as the government needs to fund social protection and emergency health measures to combat COVID-19 as well as to sustain state investments needed to help every Filipino.

There are more than 100 days between the start of the year and the original tax filing deadline of April 15 to prepare tax filing materials.

Some taxpayers have prepared for this ahead of time. (MLC)