BIR removes mayor’s permit in new business registration

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has further eased the registration process for businesses by removing the mayor’s permit in the list of documentary requirements they need to submit.

Internal Revenue Commissioner Caesar Dulay issued Revenue Memorandum Circular 57-2020, which streamlined the process and revised the checklist of documentary requirements for the registration of businesses.

According to the circular, the mayor’s permit has been removed as one of the mandatory requirements for the registration of new businesses, in line with the BIR Citizen’s Charter.

“Further, the bureau shall not process deficient or incomplete applications or requests, and shall only process an application if it is complete,” the circular added.

BIR has been continuously implementing reforms to streamline its processes and improve ease of doing business in the country.

Earlier, the Anti-Red Tape Authority met with officials of the BIR to discuss initiatives and reforms undertaken by the agency to improve its service delivery.

BIR reported that the filing of the annual income tax returns, which was extended until June 15, can now be done online through eBIR Forms and Electronic Filing and Payment System facilities.

It also adopted the use of electronic payment facilities such as GCash and PayMaya.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic and community quarantine measures, the BIR has also allowed taxpayers to file and pay their taxes in the Revenue District Office (RDO) nearest them, as opposed to the previous arrangement where they can transact only with their assigned RDOs.

The agency has also extended the validity of Electronic Certificate

Authorizing Registration (eCAR) from three years to five years.

Meanwhile, the Department of Finance (DOF) said earlier the BIR would be ready to launch the electronic invoicing system by the third quarter of this year to digitize its tax administration and collection process.

Taxes collected by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) last April dropped by 61.56 percent to P90.5 billion from P235.5 billion in the same month last year due to the extension of tax deadlines in light of the coronavirus outbreak.

From January to April, BIR’s total collection declined by 20.52 percent year-on-year to P559.3 billion.