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Lawmaker Urges DOF and BIR For Extension of AITR Filing Deadline Amid ECQ
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Lawmaker Urges DOF and BIR For Extension of AITR Filing Deadline Amid ECQ

Deputy Speaker Rufus Rodriguez calls the Department of Finance (DOF) and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to extend the deadline for the filing of annual income tax return (AITR) by at least 30 days. 

At present, the deadline for the filing of AITR for the taxable year ending December 31, 2020, is on Thursday, April 15. 

On Saturday, April 10, Rodriguez urged both agencies to extend such deadlines due to the recent reimplementation of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ). 

Rodrigues stated, “Because of the pandemic, the current lockdown and policy that discourages people from going out of their homes and limits face-to-face interaction, the DOF and the BIR should give millions of taxpayers or their representatives longer time to file their tax returns and make payments.”

He added, “NCR plus and other places have been under ECQ for two weeks now up to tomorrow and the filing will be only four days after on April 15. And there is talk on MECQ in the coming weeks.”

Rodriguez noted that online submissions may not always be available for taxpayers and their representatives since several documents are kept within office premises which are closed due to the lockdown. 

Rodriguez continued, “In some instances, which I hope is not the case, some tax return filers may be sick and have to isolate themselves to prevent virus transmission, making it difficult if not impossible for them to comply with the filing requirement.”

Tax Help in the Philippines, an advocacy group of accountants, auditors, and tax practitioners, has been appealing for DOF and BIR to extend the deadline for AITR filing period for the same reasons. 

Rodriguez also pointed out that those who wish to file their taxes personally may not be accommodated by the BIR due to some BIR offices being closed for disinfection.

Additionally, Senator Nancy Binay has also appealed to BIR and DOF to reconsider their decision to push through with the April 15 deadline for the filing and payment of the AITR for 2020.

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