BIR relaxes rules in Lando-hit areas

MANILA, Philippines - Typhoon Lando-affected taxpayers required to file their returns through the Bureau of Internal Revenue’s electronic system may do so manually until the full restoration of power supply and Internet connectivity in their areas.

The BIR, in its Revenue Memorandum Circular No. 67-2015, has ordered its Revenue District Offices in Lando-devastated areas to allow the manual filing of returns and payments even if the taxpayer has been mandated to use the Electronic Filing and Payment System (eFPS) and the Electronic BIR Forms (eBIR Forms).

The circular has been addressed to BIR RDO 2, 3, 4, 5, 22, 23-A, 23-B, and all those under the Revenue Region 2 or the Cordillera Administrative Region.

“Due to the effects of Typhoon Lando that devastated some areas under the jurisdiction of the subject district offices where the power supply and telco internet connectivity have been temporarily disconnected, all concerned taxpayers… who are mandated users of eFPS and eBIR Forms are hereby temporarily allowed to manually file their respective tax returns and manually pay the taxes due thereon,” the BIR said.

Lando, which hit the country earlier this month, brought in strong winds and rains causing flooding and destruction to property and crops especially in the northern part of Luzon.

BIR said taxpayers in the Lando-affected may file their returns and pay their taxes with authorized agent banks.

However, if there are no authorized agent banks within the areas the taxpayer is registered, filing returns and payment of taxes may be done with revenue collection officers authorized by the RDO.