Binay appeals for extension of income tax return filing deadline

Senator Nancy Binay on Wednesday appealed to the Bureau of Internal Revenue, and the Department of Finance to reconsider its decision to push through with the April 15 deadline for the filing and payment of the annual income tax returns for 2020.

“I-extend na lang sana ang April 15 deadline, kahit na sa NCR Plus lang" (I wish they extend the April 15 deadline, even just for the NCR Plus bubble), she said.

"We did so last year [because of the] enhanced community quarantine. Nasa parehong sitwasyon tayo last year" (We are now in the same situation a year later), she added. 

Further, Binay said: "Kaya hindi ko naiintindihan bakit hindi ito mapagbigyan”(I don't understand why this request can't be granted).

According to Binay, BIR Deputy Commissioner Arnel Guballa on Monday said the bureau will not extend the deadline as the government needs to reach its target revenues to fund its pandemic response.

Taxpayers, nevertheless, will be allowed to amend their filings until May 15 without any penalties, he added.

But, Binay insisted that individual taxpayers, and even the MSMEs (micro, small, and medium-scale enterprises) will have a hard time complying with the deadline due to mobility restrictions. 

Even corporate taxpayers would be pressed for time in adjusting their payments to lower tax rates provided under the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) Law, Binay said.

She note that the BIR just released last Tuesday the implementing rules and regulations for the said law.

Further, the senator said that while the government has revenue targets to meet, the public should not have to pay for the price of its "mishandling" of the COVID-19 pandemic.

She pointed out, "Hindi naman kasi taumbayan ang may kasalanan kung bakit lumala ang sitwasyon na kinakaharap natin"(The public is not to blame for the escalation of the health crisis).

So why are we passing the buck to them if they aren't responsible for the mismanagement of this crisis?” she stressed.  

“Hindi naman dahil extended ay hindi na magbabayad (extension doesn't mean they will skip paying their taxes), she said. 

"What we are asking is to spare the people the penalty for the difficulties the lockdown has brought about," she added. —Erwin Colcol/LBG, GMA News