TMAP presses BIR to phase online filing of ITR after taxpayers’ complaints

The Tax Management Association of the Philippines (TMAP) has expressed concern over the mandatory requirement of filing income tax returns (ITR) online, urging government to slowly implement the new system the after taxpayers complained that it is inaccessible, a report on GMA News' Saksi late Tuesday said.
 

Last March 17, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) issued an order directing taxpayers to file ITR via Electronic Bureau of Internal Revenue Forms (eBIRForms). 

 

Among those required to enroll under eBIRForms are:

 

"Sa manual kasi, bago namin 'yan ma-i-summarize, i-e-encode pa yan. Nandoon 'yong error. Bukod sa error, gagastos ka pa. Samantalng itong gamit mo ng internet facilities ay diretso na agad," BIR deputy commissioner Nelson Aspe said in the report.

 

However, if these taxpayers fail to comply until the April 15 deadline, they will face a penalty of P1,000 + 25 percent of tax.

 

But TMAP president Atty. Terence Conrad Bello expressed concern over the new regulation since it came out just a month before the ITR filing deadline.

 

"Hindi naman lahat ng mga covered taxpayers are computer literate or might not have access to a computer. These covered taxpayers who might not be in the position to comply given the very short timing," he said.

 

"Sana gradual yung pag-phase in the mandatory requirement," he added.

 

However, the BIR said this is part of the "birth pains" of switching to an online system.

 

"Kagaya din ng normal na nangyayari, matraffic syan sa EDSA, ang daming nakapila, mabagal talaga. Medyo kinakapos so magpoprocure kami ng pampalaki. That's what is being done right now," Aspe he said.

 

"Talagang ganun, kahit sa anong larangan, yung umpisa pa lang, introductory, may birth pains," the BIR official added. — Danessa O. Rivera/RSJ, GMA News