BIR suspends tax filing, payments in Taal-disrupted Batangas

Amid Taal Volcano’s continuing activity, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has suspended tax filing and payments in Batangas province.

The relief for victims displaced by the volcanic eruption was contained in Revenue Memorandum Circular No. 7-2020 issued by Internal Revenue Commissioner Caesar Dulay on Jan. 14.

RDOs covered

“In view of the announcement of Batangas Gov. Mark Leviste, declaring the province of Batangas under the state of calamity due to the recent volcanic eruption of the Taal Volcano affecting numerous cities, towns and municipalities in its vicinity, this office found it proper to suspend the deadlines for the month of January, on the filing and payment of tax returns in the area until such time that the situation returns to normal,” the BIR said.

Covered by the BIR circular were taxpayers under the jurisdiction of revenue district offices (RDOs) No. 58 in Batangas City for West Batangas, as well as No. 59 in Lipa City for East Batangas.

No penalties

The BIR will not impose any penalty for late filing and payments of January tax returns in the two RDOs. The bureau said it will issue an advisory when regular operations in Batangas resume.

For 2020, the BIR had programmed to collect P11.2 billion in taxes from its East Batangas RDO on top of P6.5 billion from West Batangas, Revenue Memorandum Order No. 2-2020 showed.

For the month of January alone, the target collections from East Batangas amounted to P971,604, and West Batangas, P595,557, the bulk from income taxes worth P669,313 and 316,672, respectively. —Ben O. De Vera