Despite web timeouts and glitches, no extension on deadline to file ITRs online

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) on Thursday reiterated that it will not be deferring the imposition of penalties for taxpayers who fail to file their income tax returns (ITR) online under the bureau's new Electronic Filing and Payment System (eFPS).

 

In a live phone interview on GMA Radyo DZBB, BIR Deputy Commissioner Nelson Aspe pointed out that taxpayers have already been given enough time to file their ITRs online, thus the alleged recent glitches in downloading and in filing online ITR forms should not be used as an excuse for missing the April 15 deadline.

 

“Last year pa ang ganitong online filing (of ITRs), ngayon lang natin ginawang may fine. Kasi nga nakita ng ating Commissioner (Kim Henares) na kakaunti lang ang nagcocomply. Iniiisip nila ay wala namang multa so okay lang kahit beyond the deadline,” Aspe pointed out.

 

In its Revenue Regulation No. 5-2015, issued on March 15, selected taxpayers are mandated to file ITR via Electronic Bureau of Internal Revenue Forms (eBIRForms).

 

Among those required to enroll under eBIRForms are:
 

 

 

The new regulation stated that failure to file ITRs online would warrant a penalty of P1,000 per return plus 25 percent of the tax due.

 

But with just about a week before the deadline of the filing, several taxpayers have been complaining that the eBIRForms cannot be downloaded from the BIR website.

 

Some taxpayers even complained that it was not only the eBIRForms that were inaccessible but the BIR websites itself. Thus, taxpayers who have previously downloaded the ITR forms cannot file them online.

 

The Tax Management Association of the Philippines (TMAP) has said it is concerned over the new BIR policy, saying that it should be implemented gradually, especially since the order was issued with just a month before the deadline of the ITR filing.

 

Senator Bam Aquino has also written Henares urging her to defer the imposition of the fines under the new policy and give taxpayers ample time to get to get familiar with the eBIRforms.

 

But Henares, in a newspaper report on Wednesday, maintained that the bureau will not defer implementation.

 

Aspe said the glitches are normal due to the higher number of taxpayers accessing the BIR website as the deadline of the filing draws near.

 

“Tama po yung sinabi ninyo na mabagal pero nakakalusot po naman. It just like saying na parang gaya ng Metro Rail Transit natin, mahaba na yung pila,” Aspe said, referring to the train line that has earned public ire because of frequent breakdowns and crowded coaches.

 

He said the taxpayers can also download the online forms through other websites such as knowyourtaxes.ph, dof.gov.ph, or through Dropbox.

 

Aspe said it is also advisable for taypayers having difficulty in accessing the forms online to go to their Revenue District Offfices to get assistance.

 

Aspe said taxpayers can also call the BIR call center hotline 981-8888. — Elizabeth Marcelo/JDS, GMA News