The tax implications of the next normal

When we completed a good run of tax seminars for our clients in Cebu last March 6, I could not have predicted that it would be my last face-to-face work event for the year. I have been working remotely from home for more than six months now, while some of my colleagues have left Metro Manila to work remotely from their respective provinces.

From the news, we have seen the mass repatriation of overseas Filipino workers, some of whom lost their jobs while others were lucky enough to be allowed to work from home during this coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) crisis. The suddenness of the need to implement remote work arrangements surprised many businesses. But half a year into this “next” normal, organizations are starting to look at the longer-term impact of Covid-19 remote work arrangements by finding ways to maximize the use of digital technologies and various platforms to connect and collaborate virtually.