File returns early, BIR reminds taxpayers

MORE than a month before the annual income tax filing deadline on April 15, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) appealed to taxpayers to remit their dues early to avoid the long queues.

The BIR has also worked out a scheme for banks to accept tax payments two Saturdays ahead of the deadline to compensate for two nonworking holidays, while extending banking hours starting in April.

BIR Commissioner Kim Jacinto-Henares said all authorized agent banks would receive income tax returns, as well as accept payments, on March 19 and April 2, in lieu of Black Saturday on March 26 and Araw ng Kagitingan on April 9.

The banking hours of authorized agent banks will also be extended up to 5 p.m. on April 1-15, she added.

Henares said in an earlier interview that the BIR’s e-filing system was ready for the deluge of taxpayers expected to file their returns close to the deadline. Ben O. de Vera