BIR puts up eight tax filing centers

CEBU, Philippines - With the deadline of filing of income tax returns (ITRs) on April 15, the Bureau of Internal Revenue 13 based in Cebu City has set up eight tax filing centers to accommodate the influx of taxpayers.

The putting up of tax filing centers aims to ease the long queues at revenue district offices, especially during tax filing season every April.

BIR 13 Regional Director Rodita B. Galanto said that TFCs will accept, even exempt, refundable and second installment income tax returns (ITR) from taxpayers for taxable year 2011.

These centers will be manned by revenue officers and their operation will run until April 16. The deadline for the filing of ITR is usually on April 15.

 Galanto said the TFCs will open daily except on Sundays and holidays from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. at the Elizabeth Mall, Country Mall, SM City, Park Mall, Metro Gaisano-Colon, J. Center and Ayala Center.

 “These filing centers will help decongest taxpayers filing at our district offices,” Galanto said.

 Out-of-district ITRs for 2011 filed by members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, public school teachers, professors and instructors will be accepted by authorized agent banks or revenue collection officers for taxable returns and at the TFCs.

This is based on a Revenue Memorandum Order 3-2012 dated last March 22.

  Meanwhile, hard copies of the new BIR forms 1700, 1701 and 1702 will be made available at the TFCs. The eFPS (electronic filing and payment system) filers, however, can file their returns using interactive forms made available at the BIR website. —(FREEMAN)