Last Call for Taxpayers BIR Urges On-Time Filing to Avoid Penalties

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has issued a final reminder to taxpayers regarding today’s deadline for filing and paying the 2023 Annual Income Tax Return (AITR). BIR Commissioner Romeo ‘Jun’ Lumagui Jr. emphasized the importance of meeting the April 15 deadline to avoid the hefty penalties for late submissions.

Taxpayers are required to use the BIR’s electronic platforms—either the Electronic Filing and Payment System (eFPS) or the Electronic BIR Forms (eBIRForms)—to file their taxes. In instances where these platforms experience technical issues, the BIR will permit manual filing as an alternative.

For those opting to pay their taxes in person, the BIR assures that all individuals in line by the 5 p.m. closing time at any revenue district office will be accommodated. Payments can also be made electronically through various ePay gateways or manually at authorized agent banks or revenue collection officers.

The consequences of missing the deadline are significant, with the BIR imposing a 25% surcharge and an additional 12% interest per annum on overdue payments. These penalties underline the agency’s strict enforcement of tax compliance and the importance of punctuality in tax matters.

Looking ahead, the BIR noted that a simplified two-page tax return form under the Ease of Paying Taxes Act will be implemented for the 2024 AITR to streamline the filing process further.

This reminder is part of the BIR’s broader effort to achieve its revenue target of P3.055 trillion for the year, following a robust collection of P446.423 billion in the first two months alone.

Taxpayers are encouraged to take immediate action to ensure compliance and avoid unnecessary penalties as the deadline looms.