BIR urges taxpayers to pay online to follow DOH’s advice of “social distancing” amid COVID-19 threat

March 11, 2020

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) urged on Wednesday the public to pay their annual income tax return via online in line with the Department of Health's advice to the public to follow "social distancing" amid the threat of coronavirus disease.

In a press briefing in Malacañang on Wednesday, BIR Head Revenue Executive Assistant Rosario Padilla said as of the moment, the BIR is not keen on extending the deadline for filing the annual ITR on April 15.

"We now have our offline eBIRForms Package. This package is a home-based application that offers convenience to taxpayers and ensures correct computation of tax dues. So in the convenience of your home, you can file your income tax returns," she said.

Asked if the BIR has a plan of extending the April 15 deadline for filing the annual ITRs, Padilla said, "That is why we are making the campaign now to please file early because as of now, there are no pronouncements of any extension. So, the deadline stays at April 15, 2020."

While the official did not see the need to extend the deadline, she said, "But of course, if there is really a need, we are not in the position to say we are or we are not extending. It it's necessary, then it will be considered."

Padilla said the public could pay their tax dues with BIR partners, such as PayMaya, GCash, LBP  LinkBiz with the ATM and debit cards, the DBP Tax Online Credit/ATM/debit cards.

There will also be Tax Filing Assistance Centers, which will be set up starting March 28 in all the Revenue District Offices to assist all taxpayers relative to electronic filing and payment inquiries.

Padilla said the National Training Center at BIR main grounds will also be open from March 28 to April 15, including Saturdays, from 8am to 5pm to receive tax returns from all the taxpayers registered within Caloocan, Manila, Quezon City, East National Capital Region, Makati City, and South NCR.

She said the BIR has also an agreement with the banks through the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas that the agency's authorized agent banks will extend their banking hours until 5pm from April 1 to 15 in line with the tax filing season. The authorized agent banks are also open on two consecutive Saturdays to accept tax payments within their areas of jurisdiction.

Meanwhile, BIR Assistant Commissioner Elenita Quimosing said as of January 31, 2020, the BIR has collected P3.2 billion from the government's tax amnesty program.

From tax amnesty on delinquencies, there were 2,799 filers involving the amount of P2.2 billion. 

On the other hand, for the estate tax, Quimosing said there were 13,522 filers with the P958 million paid taxes. 

She reminded the delinquent taxpayers that the deadline to avail of the amnesty is on April 23, 2020 while for estate tax amnesty, it will be June 14, 2021. Celerina Monte/DMS