Treasury secretary signals possible extension of filing deadline amid tax changes

Treasury Secretary Ángel Pantoja Rodríguez

By THE STAR STAFF

Treasury Secretary Ángel Pantoja Rodríguez said Tuesday that proposed amendments to Puerto Rico’s Internal Revenue Code could lead to an extension of the current tax filing deadline, set for April 15, as lawmakers begin the second regular legislative session.

“The deadline is April 15. In the past, we’ve started the tax cycle in mid-February, but with these proposed tax relief measures, those dates could shift slightly,” Pantoja Rodríguez told reporters.

He added that if the Legislature moves quickly to approve the changes, the Treasury Department will work to implement them as soon as possible. The potential extension is tied to the legislative process, which includes scheduled public hearings on the proposed amendments.

Pantoja Rodríguez also clarified that the tax reform plan does not include layoffs of public employees as a cost-saving measure.

“Layoffs of public employees are not part of what’s being considered,” he said. “When we talk about reducing government spending, we’re referring to specific budgeted items that are not fully utilized.”

The official added that those items include professional service contracts, purchased services, rents, facilities and utilities. He emphasized that the intention behind the changes to the Internal Revenue Code is to return the identified savings to the working class.