BUREAU of Internal Revenue (BIR) Revenue Region No. 16 on Thursday reminded all taxpayers to settle their dues and file their income tax returns (ITR) early.
“This is to avoid the last-minute hassle during the deadline as well as possible penalties for late filers,” said BIR Revenue Region no. 16 Director Emir Abutazil.
Abutazil appealed to taxpayers not to wait for the April 15 tax filing deadline and start preparing and submitting their annual ITRs and its accompanying schedules and attachments as early as January 2022.
Abutazil did not say if there will be extension of the said deadline.
He emphasized that tax returns filed and taxes paid after the deadline will be slapped with the corresponding penalties as provided for in the Tax Code.
Penalties include a 25 percent surcharge, 12 percent interest per annum, and a compromise penalty, according to the schedule of penalties.
"As early as ngayon, January, ay dapat magfile na sila ng ITR para ma avoid natin ang rush period," Abutazil reiteraded in an interview during his visit in Iligan city on Tuesday, January 11.
He said the inconvenience due to the last-minute rush and penalties for late filing would also be avoided.
Meanwhile, in a statement, Abutazil assured taxpayers affected by typhoon “Odette" that they can still pay or remit their taxes without penalties.
"Kung di pa sila nakabayad ng taxes pwede nilang lapitan ang RDO (revenue district office) upang tanggapin ang bayad nila na walang penalties," he said.
[If they have not yet paid their taxes, they can approach the RDO (revenue district office) to accept their payment without penalties.]
To offer relief to personal and corporate taxpayers, BIR earlier extended the deadline for taxes due in December 2021 to January 2022 in Odette-hit areas. (Ben Balce with a report from APB/PIA Lanao del Norte)
