Pojol and Gabay, Certified Public Accountants

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has recently issued Revenue Memorandum Circular (RMC) No. 39-2026 clarifying the deadline for the submission of the required attachments to the 2025 Annual Income Tax Returns.

This was issued to reiterate the provisions of RMC No. 30-2026 which stated that the payment of corresponding taxes due and submission of required attachments is extended until May 15, 2026 only.

Source: BIR website

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has recently issued Revenue Memorandum Circular (RMC) No. 38-2026 mandates the issuance and display of the BIR Registration Seal Badge for online sellers, e-commerce merchants, and digital service providers. This circular aims to enforce the posting of proof of registration on digital platforms while protecting taxpayers' sensitive information.

The requirements apply to anyone conducting business or providing services through digital or electronic means. This includes:

• Online sellers of goods and services.
• Professionals offering services via websites, apps, or e-commerce platforms.
• Bloggers, vloggers, live streamers, content creators, and influencers.
• Individuals earning through online views, ads, affiliate commissions, and brand sponsorships.

Key Provisions

• To prevent the online exposure of sensitive data contained in the standard Certificate of Registration (COR/eCOR), the BIR is introducing a Seal Badge. This badge acts as the official proof of registration and is to be displayed on digital platforms instead of the full COR.
• Both the COR/eCOR and the Registration Seal Badge will now feature a Quick Response (QR) Code. Anyone can scan this code to verify the authenticity of the document and the validity of the business's registration.
• When scanning the QR Code, users must ensure the resulting URL is the official BIR verification link (https://verify.bir.gov.ph/correspondence/) before trusting the results.

Guidelines for Posting

• Taxpayers must conspicuously display the badge on their websites (e.g., About or Business Permits page), mobile apps, or e-commerce seller/merchant profile pages.
• Only the Seal Badge should be posted; taxpayers should crop or extract the badge image rather than uploading the entire registration document.
• The uploaded image must remain clear, readable, and entirely unaltered.

How to Secure the Badge

• The badge is issued free of charge to business taxpayers, either manually or electronically through the Online Registration and Update System (ORUS).
• To obtain the badge, taxpayers must update their registration information (ensuring they have the correct industry codes for online retail or content creation) and pay a ₱30.00 Loose Documentary Stamp Tax (DST).
• Taxpayers with older CORs lacking a QR code are not forced to replace them, but they are encouraged to do so in order to secure the new Registration Seal Badge.

Source: BIR website

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has recently issued Revenue Memorandum Circular No. 036-2026 announcing the release of the updated Offline eBIRForms Package Version 7.9.6.0, downloadable at www.bir.gov.ph. Key updates include:

• New BIR Form 1701-MS (August 2024) for Micro and Small taxpayers — deadline extended to May 15, 2026 per RMC 30-2026
• New ATCs added in BIR Form 1601-EQ for income payments to manufacturers/importers of motor vehicles (WI840/WC840), medicine/pharma products (WI850/WC850), and solid/liquid fuels (WI860/WC860) — all at ½% withholding tax rate
• TIN Branch Code field expanded from 3 to 5 digits across all tax returns
• Foreign currency deposit tax rate updated from 15% to 20% in BIR Form 1602Qv2018
• Bug fixes for multiple forms including 0619E, 1601FQ, 1604F, and others

Source: BIR website

Our managing partner, Mr. Mark Anthony V. Pojol, will be conducting a comprehensive, two-part webinar on the "Latest BIR Updates and Tax Compliance Rules Accountants Must Know." Catch him live on April 28, 2026, via Zoom, in a session organized and sponsored by the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants - Northern Metro Manila Chapter (PICPA-NMMC).

Webinar Fees:

• ₱375 - PICPA member in good standing
• ₱500 - PICPA member not in good standing / Non-members

Secure your spot and earn your CPD units here:

👉 Part 1 (Morning Session)
⏰ 10:00 AM - 12:00 NN
✅ 1.5 CPD units (Competence Area A | Accreditation No. ACC-2009-001-17762)
🔗 https://picpasystem.com.ph/events/?eventid=5008

👉 Part 2 (Afternoon Session)
⏰ 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
✅ 1.5 CPD units (Competence Area A | Accreditation No. ACC-2009-001-17765)
🔗 https://picpasystem.com.ph/events/?eventid=5009

Looking for more trainings? Check out other available webinars and seminars from PICPA NMMC for April and May 2026 here:
🔗 https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18cpz28zer/

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has officially extended the temporary use of the 2020 General Information Sheet (GIS) Form for filings via eFAST. Corporations now have until May 15, 2026, to utilize this version while completing their transition to the new system.

Key Takeaways for Corporations:

• The temporary use of the 2020 GIS Form is extended until May 15, 2026
• This adjustment provides more time for firms to set up eSECURE accounts, which are required to access the Hierarchical and Applicable Relations and Beneficial Ownership Registry (HARBOR)
• The 2020 version remains available at https://bit.ly/2020GISForms

For technical assistance with eFAST, eSECURE, or HARBOR, you can visit the 2F SEC Headquarters in Makati City or any SEC Extension Office.

Source: SEC website

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has officially extended the filing deadlines for the 2025 Annual Financial Statements (AFS) and other related reportorial requirements for corporations with a fiscal year ending December 31, 2025. This adjustment follows the BIR’s extension of the 2025 Annual Income Tax Return filing to May 15, 2026.

Revised Filing Schedule:

👉 Audited Financial Statements (AFS): For all domestic and foreign corporations, the deadline is moved from May 29, 2026, to June 15, 2026.

👉 SEC Form 52AR (Brokers and Dealers): The deadline is extended from April 30, 2026, to May 15, 2026.

👉 Annual Reports (SEC Form 17-A): For PSE-listed issuers, registered issuers, and public companies, the deadline is now May 15, 2026, instead of April 15, 2026.

All covered corporations must ensure that their AFS submitted to the SEC is first duly received by the BIR.

Source: SEC website

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has recently issued Revenue Memorandum Circular (RMC No. 30-2026) announcing the extension of the deadline for the filing of 2025 Annual Income Tax Returns and payment of the corresponding taxes due thereon, including submission of required attachments.

This is in view of the issuance of Executive Order No. 110, s. 2026, declaring a State of National Energy Emergency and Authorizing the Unified Package for Livelihoods, lndustry, Food, and Transport, and in order to give taxpayers additional time to properly file their 2025 Annual lncome Tax Returns, pay the corresponding taxes due thereon, and submit the required attachments without the imposition of penalties, particularly at a time when the effects of rising oil prices are being felt.

This Circular is hereby issued to extend the deadline for such filing, payment, and submission from April 15 to May 15, 2026.

Source: BIR website

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has recently issued Bank Bulletin No. 2026-04, outlining the official guidelines for Authorized Agent Banks (AABs) in accepting AITRs and tax payments.

Out-of-District Payments: AABs are mandated to accept out-of-district tax payments.

Proof of Electronic Filing: If you experience a delay in receiving your emailed Tax Return Receipt Confirmation (TRRC), a printed screenshot of the "Submit Successful!" pop-up as proof of submission is accepted.

Form 1701-MS: Because BIR Form No. 1701-MS is not yet available on the electronic filing platforms, manual filing and payment for this specific return are accepted.

Banking Hours and Cut-offs: AABs must accommodate taxpayers who are already within the bank premises at the close of official banking hours. Furthermore, check payments will be accepted even after the bank's clearing cut-off time.

Submission of Attachments: Banks are no longer required to accept physical attachments. These should be routed through the eAFS facility or eSubmission, unless those systems are unavailable.

Source: BIR website

Please be guided by the prescribed work arrangements for the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in connection with the observance of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, pursuant to the Office of the President's Memorandum Circular No. 116:

8:00 AM to 12:00 PM: Work-from-home arrangement for government employees.

12:00 PM onwards: Suspension of work in government offices.

Important Note for Taxpayers: The RMC instructs that continuous service and assistance for public transactions must remain accessible. However, personnel deployment and specific work configurations will be at the discretion of the respective office heads based on their operational demands.

Source: BIR website

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has recently issued Revenue Memorandum Circular (RMC) No. 24-2026 to provide clarity on the tax treatment of cross-border services, specifically addressing concerns arising from the implementation of RMC Nos. 5-2024 and 38-2024.

Below are the key highlights from the circular:

No Automatic Taxation: Cross-border services (such as consulting, IT outsourcing, and financial services) are not automatically subject to Philippine income tax simply because of their classification. The general rule remains that income is taxed in the location where the service is performed.

Determining Taxability: To assess taxes based on the expanded situs rule from the Aces Philippines case, a Revenue Officer must prove that the source of the income is within the Philippines. This requires evaluating the cross-border service agreement as a whole, rather than isolating a single activity.

Criteria for Assessment: A valid assessment must establish four elements:
1) The transaction is between a Philippine resident payor and a non-resident service provider.
2) The specific activity is integral to the delivery of the service and results in an economic benefit (payment or accrual).
3) The situs of the income-producing activity is within the Philippines.
4) There are no applicable income tax exemptions under domestic law or tax treaties.

Burden of Proof: It is the responsibility of the taxpayer to prove that the income is sourced outside the Philippines. Taxpayers can substantiate this by providing documents such as sworn statements, service contracts, Tax Residency Certificates, SEC Certifications of Non-Registration, and proof of outward remittances.

Prior BIR Rulings Not Mandatory: A prior confirmatory BIR ruling is not a mandatory requirement to apply the appropriate tax treatment, as long as the factual and legal bases are proven during an audit. Taxpayers do, however, retain the option to request a ruling to confirm non-taxability.

Source: BIR website