Last minute ITR filers putting up with the heat, hunger and long queues at the BIR office. (UNTV News)
QUEZON CITY, Philippines — The number of last-minute filers for the income tax return on the Bureau of Internal Revenue significantly decreased this year.
However, it is still inevitable that many rush to the BIR offices on the last minute every year to comply and avoid penalties.
These are the “No Payment Return” taxpayers and small-scale businessmen who do not have to pay in filing their income tax return yearly.
Despite this, many taxpayers still have complaints.
Taxpayer Eliseo Gonzales expressed, “This time it’s taking too long, it is slow.”
While Mr. Virgilio Pangilinan said that it’s hard to file especially online.
BIR Commissioner Kim Henares also made some rounds to check the situation in the revenue district offices.
Commissioner Henares personally answered queries of tax payers and also reminded them to register online on or before June 15.
Henares warned those who are avoiding online registration and those who delinquently mislead the commission by putting wrong data on their income tax return.
“There are people who want to evade the system, they put a small amount just to be delisted on the “No payment no return” qualification. Okay, we will not sue you this time but what we will do is, this tax payer will be the one to be investigated and audited first,” Henares warned.
BIR said that the ‘no payment return’ taxpayers who filed ITR manually still need to register again for the electronic-BIR system before June 15.
They have to endure falling in line to file their ITR because the e-BIR system is experiencing glitches.
Those who applied online but have not received a confirmation email, may call the BIR help desk.
However, filing the ITR manually is important to avoid penalties.
BIR said that this may be the last year wherein many people will go to their revenue district offices because the commission assured that they will fully implement the online registration in the following months. (MON JOCSON / UNTV News)