BIR Clarifies the Deadline of Filing Documentary Stamp Taxes Return and Payment provided under Republic Act No. 11976 or the “Ease of Paying Taxes Act”

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (“BIR”) issued Revenue Memorandum Circular (“RMC”) No. 67-2024 to set guidelines for the dates of filing and payment of documentary stamp taxes (“DST”) considering the passage of Republic Act No. 11976 or the “Ease of Paying Taxes Act” (“EOPTA”). The EOPTA amended Section 200(b) of the National Internal Revenue Code regarding the time for filing and payment of DST. 

RMC No. 67-2024 clarified the proper interpretation of Section 200(b) stating that the general rule is that the Secretary of Finance upon recommendation of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue may fix the period for filing and payment of documentary stamp taxes through promulgation of rules and regulations. In the absence of such issuance by the Secretary of Finance, the tax return shall be filed within 10 days after the close of the month when the taxable document was made, signed, accepted, or transferred, and payment shall be made at the time the return is filed. 

Given that the Secretary of Finance has already issued Revenue Regulation (“RR”) No. 06-2001, the provisions of this RR shall prevail. Section 5 of RR No. 06-2001 provides that the period for filing instead be within 5 days. Thus, the filing of the DST return and its payment shall be made within 5 days instead of 10 days as provided for under the EOPTA.