BIR Revenue Regulations No. 8-2020

REVENUE REGULATIONS NO. 8-2020 issued on April 2, 2020 implements Section 4 (aa) of Republic Act (RA) No. 11469 (Bayanihan to Heal as One Act). The said Section of RA No. 11469 directs all banks, quasi-banks, financing companies, lending companies, and other financial institutions, public and private, including the Government Service Insurance System, Social Security System and Pag-IBIG Fund, to implement a minimum of thirty (30)-day grace period for the payment of all loans, including but not limited to salary, personal housing, and motor vehicle loans, as well as credit card payments, falling due within the period of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) without incurring interest, penalties, fees, or other charges. Persons with multiple loans shall likewise be given the minimum thirty (30)-day grace period for every loan. The regulations cover all extensions of payment and/or maturity periods of all loans mentioned above falling due within the ECQ Period, including the extension of maturity periods that may result from the grant of grace periods for these payments, whether or not such maturity periods originally fall due within the ECQ Period. These regulations also cover credit restructuring, micro-lending, including those obtained from pawnshops, and extensions thereof during the ECQ Period. No additional Documentary Stamp Tax, including that imposed under Section 179, 195 and 198 of the National Internal Revenue Code, shall apply to credit extensions and credit restructuring, micro-lending, including those obtained from pawnshops and extensions thereof during the ECQ Period.

BIR Revenue Regulations No. 6-2020

REVENUE REGULATIONS NO. 6-2020 issued on March 30, 2020 implements the Tax Exemption provision of Republic Act (RA) No. 11469 (Bayanihan to Heal as One Act). Under the said law, the President has been given the power to liberalize the grant of incentives for the manufacture or importation of critical or needed equipment or supplies, which include healthcare equipment and supplies: Provided, That importation of these equipment and supplies shall be exempt from import duties, taxes and other fees.Based on the said provision, the following declarations are made in the regulations:
a. The importation of critical or needed healthcare equipment or supplies intended to combat the COVID-19 public health emergency, including personal protective equipment; laboratory equipment and its reagents; medical equipment and devices; support and maintenance for laboratory and medical equipment, surgical equipment and supplies; medical supplies, tools, and consumables; common medicines; testing kits, and such other supplies or equipment as may be determined by the Department of Health and other relevant government agencies, shall be EXEMPT from Value Added Tax, Excise Tax and other fees;
b. Importation of materials needed to make health equipment and supplies deemed as critical or needed to address the current public health emergency shall likewise be EXEMPT from Value-Added Tax, Excise Tax and other fees, provided that the importing manufacturer is included in the Master List of the Department of Trade and Industry and other incentive granting bodies;
c. The importation thereof shall not be subject to the issuance of Authority to Release Imported Goods (ATRIG) under Revenue Memorandum Order No. 35-2002. Hence, the ATRIG shall not be necessary for the release of said goods from the Bureau of Customs (BOC). Based on the BOC list of importers who made importations without any ATRIG, the BIR will conduct post investigation/audit;
d. Donations of these imported articles to or for the use of the National Government or any entity created by any of its agencies which is not conducted for profit, or to any political subdivision of the said government are EXEMPT from Donor’s Tax, and subject to the ordinary rules of deductibility under existing rules and issuances.
The regulations shall take effect immediately and shall be in full force only during the three (3) month effectivity of RA No. 11469, unless extended or withdrawn by Congress or ended by Presidential Proclamation.

BIR Revenue Regulations No. 5-2020

REVENUE REGULATIONS NO. 5-2020 issued on March 23, 2020 amends Revenue Regulations (RR) No. 4-2019 relative to the availment period for the Tax Amnesty on Delinquencies. All persons, whether natural or juridical, with internal revenue tax liabilities covering taxable year 2017 and prior years, may avail of Tax Amnesty on Delinquencies within one (1)
year from the effectivity of the said Regulations or until April 23, 2020, under any of the instances listed in the Regulations. However, the said date may be extended if the circumstances warrant an extension, such as in case of country-wide economic or health reason/s.

BIR Revenue Memorandum Circular NO. 44-2020

REVENUE MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 44-2020 issued on April 17, 2020 prescribes the issuance of temporary electronic copies of VAT Certificates (VCs) and VAT Identification Cards (VICs) due to the continuing implementation of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ). The issued electronic copies of VCs and VICs shall remain valid only until August 30,
2020, and shall be renewed within thirty (30) calendar days from the lifting of the ECQ following the same requirements and procedures set forth under Revenue Memorandum Order No. 10-2019. All business establishments shall grant a point-of-sale VAT exemption upon presentation by the concerned Resident Foreign Missions (RFM) personnel and their dependents of the
electronic copies of VCs and VICs and his/her Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA)-issued electronic copy of Certification of Accreditation or a valid DFA Protocol ID. For RFM, its duly authorized representative shall present his/her Identification Card and Special Power of Attorney or authorization letter upon each purchase, in addition to the VC issued to the RFM.

Revenue Memorandum Circular No. 43-2020

REVENUE MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 43-2020 issued on April 17, 2020 prescribes the guidelines in the acceptance of payment of internal revenue taxes during the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) period. During the ECQ period, taxpayers may pay internal revenue taxes at the nearest Authorized Agent Banks (AABs), notwithstanding RDO jurisdiction. They may also file their tax returns and pay the corresponding tax due thereon to the concerned Revenue Collection Officers (RCOs) of the nearest Revenue District Office (RDO), even in areas where there are AABs. Provided, that payment of internal revenue taxes in cash should not exceed twenty thousand pesos (?20,00.00), while those with check payment will have no limitation if the same is made with the RCO in the district office during the ECQ period. Provided, further, that all checks shall be made payable to the Bureau of Internal Revenue and that the name of receiving AAB branch may no longer be indicated in the check for tax payment.