Following the plea of some of our countrymen, with Senator Christopher Lawrence T. Go at its forefront, the Palace confirms that the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has extended the deadline for the filing of the 2019 Annual Income Tax Returns (AITRs) from April 15 to May 15 of this year, without the imposition of penalties.
The one-month extension aims to provide ample time for Filipino taxpayers to prepare the requirements needed in their tax filing, which the government fully understands given the extraordinary conditions that presently beset the country amid its campaign against the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Taxpayers who have prepared early and are already ready to file their returns may, however, do so through accessible means, such as but not limited to, online filing. Given that taxation is the lifeblood of our country and is used to, among others, support our government such as in times of crisis, our receipt of tax payments from those who are able (should their locations and surrounding circumstances allow) is vital.
While the Office of the President is confident that our revenue officers would still be able to meet their tax collection targets, it also calls on everyone to do their patriotic duty of paying their taxes faithfully, once the situation enables them.
