With the government saying that it is looking for ways to ease the burden of the ongoing energy crisis.
On Tuesday (April 14), President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. announced that the filing of the 2025 annual income tax return, which is supposed to end today, April 15, has been extended for another month.
In a Facebook post, he said that this will give taxpayers more time to properly complete their submissions with all required documents and without incurring penalties or surcharges.
“Pinalawig natin ang deadline ng filing ng 2025 Annual Income Tax Returns mula April 15 hanggang May 15, 2026,” told the chief executive. “Mas may oras ang bawat taxpayer na makapag-file nang maayos, kasama ang lahat ng kailangang dokumento, at walang ipapataw na penalties.”
The post emphasized that government is looking for ways to ease the burden on Filipinos, noting that initiatives continue to help address the challenges faced by the public.
“Tuloy-tuloy ang ating ginagawa para maibsan ang bigat sa araw-araw na buhay ng ating mga kababayan,” read the post.
Meanwhile, taxpayers may file using the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) electronic platforms or through authorized agent banks.
“Ginawa natin ito para mas magaan ang pagbabayad ng bawat Pilipino, lalo na sa panahong ramdam ang pagtaas ng presyo ng langis,” the post added.
STUDYING POSSIBLE SUSPENSION OF PREMIUM CONTRIBUTIONS
Meanwhile, on Wednesday, Malacañang said that it is committed to studying proposals to suspend pension premium contributions for members of state-run pension funds SSS (Social Security System), GSIS (Government Service Insurance System) and Pag-IBIG (Home Development Mutual Fund).
“Iyan ang aaralin pero sa ngayon ay mayroon nang ginagawa ang SSS, ang GSIS, at Pag-IBIG para sa ating mga kababayan dahil nga sa nangyayaring gulo sa Middle East,” Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said.
Castro also outlined current initiatives by the three state-run pension funds, starting with the SSS that has almost PHP60 billion in financial assistance and benefits for its members, pensioners, and employers for loan programs and early implementation of the 2026 pension increase—in addition to loan penalty condonation and contribution delinquency relief.
Meanwhile, the GSIS is implementing the Balik Ginhawa Program, which involves a three-month loan moratorium. “Ire-refund muna para magamit ng ating mga kababayan at babayaran nila ito nang walang interest. At sa ngayon ay mayroon nang 297,162 out of 353,667 applications na nag-qualify na para dito sa Balik Ginhawa Program,” Castro notdd.
Pag-IBIG has announced a special benefits package for repatriated OFWs that could be withdrawn of up to 100 percent of Pag-IBIG regular savings and Modified Pag-IBIG 2 Savings before maturity.
Members could also avail themselves of a three-month moratorium on their housing loan payments without interest and penalties, Castro noted.