Extension of April 15 tax filing deadline sought
MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Vicente Sotto III asked the Department of Finance to extend the April 15 deadline on paying income tax amid growing clamor from businesses for more time after the coronavirus outbreak disrupted their operations.
According to a report by The STAR, Sotto said he had a phone call with Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III who vowed to act on his request “ASAP".
This, as companies grapple to operate after President Rodrigo Duterte locked down the entire Luzon and suspended public transportation in the island to contain the virus, which has infected 187 in the country as of reporting, 14 of them died.
Officials of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), an agency of the DOF, last week said they “don’t see the need” to push back the deadline to file income tax despite health authorities’ advice to the public to observe social distancing to prevent the new coronavirus from further spreading.
They also reminded taxpayers that a surcharge of 25% and 12% annual interest will be slapped on top of their dues should they file beyond the deadline, as prescribed by law.
Instead, the BIR encouraged taxpayers to pay their duties electronically and said all revenue offices — except those that might be ordered to cease operations due to the lockdown — will remain open and will maintain a skeletal workforce during the month-long community quarantine to collect taxes.
The bureau also said it will waive penalties for income tax return amendments provided that settlement payments are made on or before June 15 amid the lockdown.
“To help our skeletal workforce, who are putting their health at risk just for the Bureau to continuously function, and manage big tasks at hand during this Income Tax filing season, we urge all taxpayers to comply with tax obligations using the internet,” the BIR said in an advisory.
The BIR, which collects around 80% of tax revenues yearly, relies heavily on a typical surge in collections during April as taxpayers troop to their offices to settle their income tax duties.
Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said the government is set to lose P91 billion this year as the spread of the virus spooks consumers from economic activities like travel, which generates revenues for the government. — with a report from The STAR/Paolo Romero
Photo shows members of the Philippine National Police deployed in Manila amid COVID-19 threat. The STAR/Edd Gumban
President Rodrigo Duterte on March 16, 2020 declares an enhanced community quarantine over all of mainland Luzon, an expansion of an earlier general community quarantine over the National Capital Region.
The entire National Capital Region—16 cities and a municipality—is under community quarantine from March 15 to April 14, which means the enforcement of social distancing measures like letting fewer people on public transportation, reduced store hours, and the possibiity of curfews.
According to a memorandum issued by the Palace on Saturday, March 14, the quarantine means that "movement of people shall be limited to accessing basic necessities and work; and uniformed personnel and quarantine officers shall be present at border points."
Travel restrictions in and out of the capital will also be implemented.
A labor group says another lockdown will never resolve rising COVID-19 cases in the Philippines after the government announced that Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Bulacan and Rizal are placed under the enhanced community quarantine starting Monday.
“The Duterte government seems to be deliberate in focusing its efforts in imposing quarantine and lockdown measures instead of addressing the rising cases of COVID-19 and the worsening state of the pandemic through medical solutions and scientific approach,” says Defend Jobs Philippines.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque says the implementation of enhanced community quarantine is meant to slow down the increase of COVID-19 cases, so hospitals and health workers will not be overwhelmed.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque announces that Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Bulacan and Rizal are placed under enhanced community quarantine starting Monday, March 29.
Tuguegarao City will be placed under enhanced community quarantine from January 20 to 29 due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the city.
Cagayan Gov. Manuel Mamba approved the request of Tuguegarao Mayor Jefferson Soriano to place the city under ECQ for 10 days.
According to the Cagayan Provincial Information Office, the city currently has 246 active cases.
BREAKING NEWS | ENERO 19, 2021 RIATF INAPRUBAHAN NA ANG PAGSASAILALIM SA TUGUEGARAO CITY SA 10-ARAW NA...
Posted by Cagayan Provincial Information Office on Tuesday, 19 January 2021
Batangas, one of the provinces hardest hit by the novel coronavirus, has reported no new cases of the disease for two consecutive days.
The provincial DOH Office says the number of COVID-19 cases in the province stood at 91 with no new cases as of Wednesday afternoon.
Lipa City has the most cases with 26, followed by Batangas City (21) and Nasugbu (11).
Tanauan City has the fourth most cases with eight, followed by Bauan (5) and Alitagtag (3). Cuenca and Sto. Tomas City had two cases each, while the municipalities of Calaca, Lemery, Lian, Lobo, Mabini, Mataas na Kahoy, Padre Garcia, San Jose, San Juan, San Pascual and Taal had one case each, respectively. — The Filipino Connection
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