Taxpayers Expected to Flock BIR Offices on Last Day of ITR Filing

To beat the April 15 deadline in the filing of their income tax returns (ITR), taxpayers in Cebu are expected to flock the offices of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).

The BIR said their offices will close at 5pm today with no extension and those who fail to settle their tax obligations will be meted out with heavy penalties.

In Cebu, the BIR expects more people to file today saying Filipinos usually submit on deadlines.

Rhea May Lacierda, a tax consultant at UniconDouglas Consulting, said the April 15 deadline of ITR and payment of tax due is for taxable year ending December 31, 2013.

She said both private and government agencies should file their income tax returns today to avoid the BIR’s stiff penalties.

“We can see taxpayers go to BIR offices and accredited banks early in the morning, patiently waiting until the bank opens to get their priority number,” Lacierda said.

“Some taxpayers prefer to pay their dues online through BIR EFPS but naglisod pud og sulod kay traffic ang site”, she added.

The BIR this year has set their collections target at P1.46 trillion, 16 percent higher than their target in 2013.

The BIR said it will no longer grant an extension of the deadline for filing ITRs.