90 percent of tax filings already done online

MANILA, Philippines — About 90 percent of tax filings and payments are already conducted online as the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) ramps up its digitalization efforts.

During the Senate committee on finance hearing yesterday, BIR commissioner Romeo Lumagui said the agency’s electronic filing and payment system is working and has been effective.

For one, during this year’s income tax return (ITR) filing, 91 percent or 11.17 million out of the 12.26 million filings were done online.  This compared to the roughly one million in manual filings.

“During the last tax filing season in April, the lines were really short in district offices because of electronic filing, including that of businesses,” Lumagui said.

Under the proposed budget of the Department of Finance (DOF) next year, the BIR will receive the largest share at P17.68 billion, up by 12.4 percent from the 2024 level of P15.74 billion.

This makes up for more than half or 54.4 of the total DOF proposed allocation.

The biggest chunk at P8.92 billion will go to personnel services to cover the salaries, compensation and other benefits of 15,666 permanent employees.

Another P6.06 billion is allocated for maintenance and other operating expenses to support critical operations to sustain its information and communications technology programs and projects, particularly electronic services.

Capital outlay at P1.88 billion, however, will have the biggest increase to fund the construction, renovation and rehabilitation of BIR office buildings, as well as the acquisition of 62 motor vehicles.

This will also support the BIR’s new, expanded and ongoing digitalization programs and projects.