BIR extends deadline of abatement program

The Bureau of Internal Revenue has extended the deadline of its abatement program to all taxpayers with existing delinquent accounts or assessment until January 31, 2007 instead of last October 31.

This was announced yesterday by BIR regional director Jaime Santiago, who encouraged those who have pending delinquent accounts and assessments to avail of the abatement extension.

Under the bureau's Memorandum Circular 74-2006, all interests, surcharges and penalties of a taxpayer will be cancelled if he will pay his basic tax due on or before January 31.

The program, however, will not be available to those who have already paid a portion of their tax liabilities on which the Presidential Commission on Good Government has an interest.

The BIR only offered the program to all taxpayers with existing delinquent accounts or assessments that have been issued as of June 30.

Covered by the program are delinquent accounts or accounts receivable cases; income tax second installment cases; dishonored checks cases; cases with administrative protest pending with different BIR offices; assessed cases, whether preliminary or final, as of June 30; and civil tax cases being disputed before the Department of Justice and other courts.

Also covered include cases with pending request for compromise settlement under BIR regulations; pending request for abatement under RR 13-2001; failure to withhold withholding taxes discovered upon audit; criminal violations except those under the RATE Program; and letter notice cases.

Santiago has urged taxpayers to visit the BIR offices for further clarifications on the program. - Gregg M. Rubio