Senator Win Gatchalian wants to include a provision allowing an installment payment feature in the proposed measure extending estate tax amnesty in the hope that this would encourage more taxpayers to avail of the tax reprieve.
Such provision stemmed from comments made by Tax Management Association of the Philippines President Atty. Suzette Celicious-Sy during a recent public hearing on the proposed measure that some taxpayers simply do not have the financial capacity to pay for their respective estate taxes.
“Kailangan nating tulungan ang mga kababayan natin na walang masyadong kapasidad na makapagbayad ng estate tax. Importante ang probisyon na ito para mas maging epektibo ang extension na gagawin para sa estate tax amnesty,” Gatchalian emphasized. As proposed, those who will avail of such feature will be allowed to pay the estate tax due on installment within a period of 2 years.
The chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means, Gatchalian filed Senate Bill No. 2197, An Act Amending Republic Act 11213, seeking to extend by 2 years and simplify the process of availing of the estate tax amnesty program.
In a bid to encourage more taxpayers to avail of the tax relief, Gatchalian also seeks to expand the coverage of the estate tax amnesty program by including estates of decedents who passed away on or before December 31, 2021, to include those who lost a loved one at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The current program only covers the estate of those who passed away on or before December 31, 2017.
To make it easier for those who want to avail of the tax amnesty program, Gatchalian also wants to exclude the submission of proof of settlement of the estate, whether judicial or extrajudicial, as one of the requirements set by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) for those who want to avail of the estate tax amnesty program.
Further, Gatchalian wants to institutionalize a platform that would allow electronic filing of return and payment of estate tax, a step further towards simplifying and making it easier for taxpayers to fulfill their obligations.
“Importante na mas madali at mas simple ang proseso ng pagbabayad ng buwis hindi lamang para mas maging mahusay ang pangongolekta ng buwis kundi para mas marami sa ating mga kababayan ang tumupad sa kanilang mga tungkulin,” he added.
