When Should An Estate Tax Return Be Filed And Paid?

File the return within six (6) months from decedent's death. However, the Commissioner may, in meritorious cases, grant extension not exceeding thirty (30) days.

The Estate Tax imposed shall be paid at the time the return is filed by the executor or administrator or the heirs. However, when the Commissioner finds that payment on the due date of the Estate Tax or of any part thereof would impose undue hardship upon the estate or any of the heirs, he may extend the time for payment of such tax or any part thereof not to exceed five (5) years, in case the estate is settled through the courts or two (2) years in case the estate is settled extra-judicially.

In all cases of transfers subject to tax, or where, though exempt from tax, the gross value of the estate exceeds Twenty Thousand Pesos (P 20,000), Section 89 of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997 (Tax Code), as amended, provides that the executor, administrator or any of the legal heirs, shall send a written notice of death to the Commissioner within two (2) months after the decedent’s death or within a like period after an executor or administrator qualify as such. (part II, par.(1)of RMC No. 34-2013)

Please note that the time of filing will vary depending on the law applicable at the time of the decedent’s death.

Extension of Time of Filing:

When the Commissioner finds that the payment of the estate tax or of any part thereof would imposed undue hardship upon the estate or any of the heirs, he may extend the time for payment of such tax or any part thereof not to exceed five (5) years in case the estate is settled through the courts, or two (2) years in case it settled extra-judicially.

Where the request for extension is by reason of negligence, intentional disregard of rules and regulations, or fraud on the part of the taxpayer, no extension will be granted by the Commissioner.

If an extension is granted, the Commissioner or his duly authorized representative may require the executor, or administrator, or beneficiary, as the case may be, to furnish a bond in such amount, not exceeding double the amount, not exceeding double the amount of tax and with such sureties as the Commissioner deems necessary, conditioned upon the payment of the said tax in accordance in the terms of extension.

The request for extension shall be filed with the Revenue District Officer (RDO) where the estate is required to secure its TIN and file the estate tax return. The application shall be approved by the Commissioner or his duly authorized representative.