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The year 2022 has so far had a rocky start, with the new year seemingly introducing new trials just as business owners and corporate leaders were getting steady on their feet in the “post-pandemic” climate. Including the recent surge, the total number of COVID-19 positive cases in the country has reached the 3 million mark. As a result, the government has placed more areas under Alert Level 3 classification, thereby placing operating capacity restrictions on more businesses across the country.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has issued Bank Bulletin Nos. 2021-26 and 2022-01 to inform all Authorized Agent Banks (AABs) on the modified rules in filing and paying taxes. These relaxed rules are put in place to alleviate the concerns of the taxpayers brought about by Typhoon Odette followed by the rise of COVID-19 cases, which prompted the government to classify some areas in the Philippines under Alert Level 3.

With the recent surge in the number of COVID-19 cases placing Metro Manila, along with other areas, in General Community Quarantine Alert Level 3, the current situation adds to the anxieties that everyone is experiencing during this challenging time. Perhaps, for a moment, we can think of some light vibes to somehow lighten our burden, particularly for taxpayers who have a lot on their plate.

Just when you thought we were already living in a technologically advanced society, the world’s biggest tech companies surprise you. Metaverse, a word that conjures an image of an alternate universe in a science-fiction novel, has been a major talking point lately. This is largely because of Facebook’s rebranding as “Meta” in October.

NEW year, renewed optimism. This was the perspective of most businesses toward the end of the 2021, with most expressing confidence that they could start embracing hybrid work arrangements for their workforces come 2022. The rosy outlook came at the heels of mass inoculation programs initiated by the government. In a Collier's report released in November last year, several employers stated that they were expecting a big chunk of their workforces to return to the office this year while others said they were set to adopt a mix of remote and on-site work setups.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) recently issued Revenue Regulation No. 22-2021 on December 24, 2021 which extended the deadline for (1) the filing of tax returns and corresponding attachments; (2) the payment of taxes due thereon; (3) the filing and processing of application for tax refund, including claims for Value-Added Tax (VAT) refund; and (4) the statutory period for the issuance of assessment notices and warrants of distraint and levy, for taxpayers within the jurisdiction of Revenue Regions (RRs) and Revenue District Offices (RDOs) of the BIR that were adversely affected by Typhoon Odette.

Just when things were starting to feel normal again, 2022 came and so did the significant surge of COVID-19 cases. This pandemic has changed our lives in different ways. Lives were put on hold, some were overturned, and many lives were lost. Amidst this new normal, however, we have proven time and time again the Filipino’s resiliency and adaptability – finding new ways to persevere and to thrive despite challenges.

The start of the year sees us at a rather confusing impasse regarding the COVID-19 situation. We find ourselves caught between Metro Manila’s return to stricter Alert Level 3 conditions, wherein businesses are only allowed to operate at 30% capacity, and surges brought about by the Omicron variant of the coronavirus and easing of restrictions over the holidays. These come on the heels of economists’ positive outlook of steady growth across Asia during the latter half of 2021 due to high vaccination rates, and business optimism recorded in the International Business Report (IBR), a survey conducted by Grant Thornton. It found that 80% of mid-market firms in the Philippines were optimistic about the country’s economic outlook for 2022. But with health experts cautioning that we might see peak positivity rates in the coming weeks, it is hard to say for sure where businesses will land this year.