MANILA, PHILIPPINES – The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) of the Philippines has extended the electronic filing of income tax returns until June 15 of this year, the bureau said in a statement.
The extension, however, is only for those who will file “no payment returns” as the BIR stressed April 15 is still the deadline for others.
BIR Commissioner Kim S. Jacinto-Henares issued the instructions after holding an emergency meeting with revenue regional directors amid mounting complaints from taxpayers nationwide on the inaccessibility of bureau’s computer platform.
Irate taxpayers noted that they can easily download the electronic tax forms or eBIRForms but problems arise when they start filling up and emailing the forms.
They likened the BIR webpage to a small tunnel with too many people trying to get inside.
As a result, online taxpayers said they will not be able to meet the Wednesday’s tax filing deadline unless permitted to file manually.
In Revenue Memorandum Circular 18-2015 posted on the BIR website, the bureau said that taxpayers who file “no payment” returns, as in taxes withheld by employers must still comply with the requirement to file eBIRForms electronically.
However, the BIR said, “in order for the Bureau to focus on ITRs with payments, ‘No Payment’ Returns may be filed manually on or before April 15, 2015 with the Revenue District Office where they are registered, through the use of the official printed forms or the offline eBIRForms Package.” – BusinessNewsAsia.com