The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has issued Bank Bulletin 2021-26 and 2022-01 to inform all Authorized Agent Banks (AABs) on the modified rules in filing and paying taxes. These relaxed rules are put in place to alleviate the concerns of the taxpayers brought about by Typhoon Odette followed by the rise of Covid-19 cases, which prompted the government to classify some areas in the Philippines under Alert Level 3.

Pertinent guidelines are as follows:

1. All tax returns from taxpayers registered under Revenue District Offices (RDOs) placed under Alert Level 3 and/or affected by Typhoon Odette, including out-of-district returns, shall be accepted.

2. For those taxpayers affected by Typhoon Odette, tax returns falling due from December 20 to 31, 2021 shall be accepted without any penalty, within 30 days from the due date.

3. Check payments shall be accepted even without the name of receiving AAB branch indicated in the check, as long as the check is made payable to the BIR. Check payments to AABs shall also be accepted even if the checks have different collecting AAB branch names provided that the payment is made through the same AAB. The taxpayer shall indicate the name of the receiving AAB branch that actually received the payment at the back of the check.

No penalty shall be imposed for the wrong venue of filing of returns and payment of taxes. Nevertheless, taxpayers may also file returns and pay taxes online.

Please be guided accordingly.

Source:

P&A Grant Thornton

Certified Public Accountants