Gov’t easing ways to pay taxes; TRAIN shortens ITR form

Marissa Cabreros (right) and Tony Lambino —JOAN BONDOC

It is now easy for taxpayers to file and pay their taxes, officials said on Wednesday.

Assistant Finance Secretary Tony Lambino said that under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Act, the income tax return (ITR) form that individuals and corporations fill out had been cut from 12 pages to just two to four.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) also added electronic payments through banks for individuals and the online system for big corporations.

Assistance centers

Revenue Deputy Commissioner and spokesperson Marissa Cabreros said online payment could be made through GCash, LBP LinkBizATM/Debit cards, and DBP Tax Online Credit/ATM/Debit Cards, among other systems.

BIR revenue district offices have put up tax assistance filing centers, Cabreros said.

Taxpayers registered in the cities of Manila, Caloocan and Makati may also go to the National Training Center at the BIR National Office in Quezon City, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Authorized agent banks have extended their banking hours to 5 p.m. and are open on two consecutive Saturdays to accept tax payments.

Cabreros urged taxpayers not to wait until the April 15 deadline to file their ITRs and pay taxes, noting that the day is Holy Monday.

According to the BIR, tax collection rose 10 percent from P1.77 trillion in 2017 to P1.95 trillion in 2018, but still below its target of P2.04 trillion. Target collection for 2019 is P2.271 trillion.