Electronic BIR forms help fast-track filing of taxes

On the last day of filing of income tax returns, hundreds of taxpayers queued at the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) regional office in Quezon City to file their income tax returns to avoid penalties.

BIR Regional Director Alfredo Misajon said that two days before the deadline, the agency already set up an outdoor office, housing ten regional district offices from Novaliches, Quezon City, to Taytay, Rizal.

“So far, this is the lightest crowd we have encountered. Last year, grabe, talagang nang-aaway pa 'yong iba. Talagang malaking tulong ang ating e-BIR Form,” he said.

He was referring to the agency's electronic BIR Forms (e-BIR Forms) where taxpayers without liabilities may file income tax returns and pay taxes online.

“Based on what's happening, it seems like it's pretty successful,” BIR Commissioner Kim Jacinto-Henares said in a separate interview.

“Almost 50 percent (have filed online),” she said, noting the decrease in manual filers at the BIR compound.

“So far mas kaunti (ang nag-file manually) as compared sa last year, kasi medyo na-educate na ng kaunti ang ating mga taxpayer (sa eBIR),” BIR Revenue Officer II Renato Basilio added.

The new online filing system has also decreased manual processing time.

“Siguro mga five minutes lang tinagal ko, natapos na agad,” said Rudy Pilarca, who works as a liaison officer for a publishing house. “Wala namang hassle, mas maganda, mas mabilis. 'Yung last year talaga pahirapan,” he added.

However, other taxpayers thought otherwise, with one even calling the process “lousy.”

This particular taxpayer, who preferred not to be named, said she chose not to file online and instead file manually.

At the BIR office, she noted that there were no lanes for persons with disabilities (PWDs) like her. "PWD ako. I don't know why they don't have a lane for that. Buti nalang mayroong electric fan, may tubig, may kape," she said.

For another taxpayer Lisa Manalo, filing online was a bit of a struggle as the connection with the BIR website kept on lagging even after numerous tries.

“Pag magfa-file na kami, nakalagay ‘no internet access.’ Doon kami nade-delay sa pagpapareceive. No internet connection daw pero nakakapag-Facebook kami. Hatinggabi talaga hanggang madaling araw,” she said.

“Dapat tapos na kami eh. Dun lang kami nahirapan sa online,” she said, showing multiple copies of documents to be filed with the agency. Despite this, Manalo said that manual processing has improved this year.

BIR Revenue Officer II Aurelio Abajon Jr., who has spent the last 33 years working for the agency, said the process is better this year.

“Basta dumating sila ng 5 p.m, ia-accommodate namin. Mahirap naman yung iba galing pa sa kung saan tapos papaalisin lang namin,” he said. — BAP, GMA News