MANILA – Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan has filed a measure seeking to extend the period of estate tax amnesty availment to December 31, 2028 to help Filipino families settle their estate tax obligations without hefty penalties associated with missing the deadline.

Pangilinan filed Senate Bill No. 1740 on February 2, proposing amendments to Republic Act No. 11213, as amended by RA Nos. 11569 and 11956.

The proposed measure aims to extend the estate tax amnesty, which expired on June 14, 2025, to December 31, 2028. It will cover the estate of decedents who died on or before December 31, 2024 and whose estate taxes have remained unpaid or have accrued as of December 31, 2024.

Under the bill, the executor or administrator, legal heirs, transferees, or beneficiaries of the estate who wish to avail of the amnesty must file either electronically or manually a sworn Estate Tax Amnesty Return by December 31, 2028.

In the explanatory note, Pangilinan cited the “persistent challenges” faced by many Filipino families in settling their estate tax obligations and formalizing ownership of inherited properties.

“[D]espite prior extensions, many Filipinos continue to struggle with compliance due to practical, economic, and external factors. These include financial hardships, documentation gaps in long-unsettled estates, and complex probate requirements that demand legal expertise and resources often beyond the reach for middle- and low-income families,” the explanatory note read.

The proposed measure seeks to free Filipino families from civil, criminal, and administrative liabilities and allow installment payments of estate taxes for up to two years without civil penalty and interest.

“This measure addresses longstanding barriers to timely settlement of estates. By providing a clear, fair, and flexible pathway to compliance, the bill supports the orderly transfer of ownership and promotes the regularization of property rights,” Pangilinan said.