MANILA, PHILIPPINES – Thousands of taxpayers in the Philippines trooped to the different offices of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to beat the deadline of the filing of income tax returns (ITR).
Taxpayers lined up outside BIR district offices around the country as early as 5 a.m. to ensure that they beat the deadline of the filing of ITR and avoide penalties.
While taxpayers in Manila complaint of slow processing of their ITR filing, some BIR district offices in Visayas had different approach to address the influx of taxpayers.
In Tacloban City, the BIR district office offered free food, including lechon (roasted pig), for taxpayers. BIR officials said it was their way of thanking taxpayers for filing their ITR.
In Cebu City, taxpayers were treated with ice cream and biscuits while waiting for their turn to be processed.
In other BIR offices, taxpayers complained of too much crowd and slow processing of their filing but BIR Commissioner Kim Henares said taxpayers were given enough time to file their ITR.
Henares expressed hoped that the attitude of Filipinos, who are use to filing their ITRs on the day of the deadline, will change soon so they will not have to mingle with the crowd in beating the last day of filing.
Henares said the deadline will not be extended.
The BIR also issued the statement to clarify reports that the deadline is June 15, 2015.
“The June 15, 2015 deadline is for the electronic filing of NO PAYMENT Income Tax Returns using the eBIRForms. This is for those who are required to file their income tax returns electronically but who will opt in the meantime to file their NO PAYMENT income tax returns manually on or before April 15, 2015. Having filed their returns manually, they must re-file their income tax returns electronically on or before June 15, 2015,” said Henares.
The BIR will impose penalties on taxpayers if their ITRs are not re-submitted electronically on or before June 15, 2015. – BusinessNewsAsia.com