By Daisy Jane Apit
Davao Today intern
DAVAO CITY – Long queues and complaints filled the last day of the filing of personal income tax at the Bureua of Internal Revenue Davao region office.
The BIR projected some 23,000 people from the city to file their taxes, and indeed the last hour was a scramble for people to beat the deadline.
“Ganyan talaga ang habit ng mga Pinoy, masaya sila sa deadline. (That has been the habit of Pinoys, to get happy on deadlines), Which is not good,” said BIR-11 OIC Attorney Glen Geraldino.
People were still coming in at the deadline of 5 pm but were not allowed to enter the BIR gates. Some pleaded for an extension, while others pleaded to security guards that they already came from the office only to go out to get some requirments.
Manuelito Remedios, the BIR security guard, said they opened early and expected such scenario.
“Even before eight o-clock, the people were already here. I don’t see any problem because there’s a system, but there were some who complained right away. We opened early, but there were many people waiting already,” Remedios said.
BIR personnel took turns during lunch breaks to ensure services continued to accomodate taxpayers.
As expected, negatives comments on the process were raised by the people who requested not to be named.
“Gaina ra man ko gahulat. Dugay muusad ang linya, (I’ve been waiting here for hours, the line is barely moving).”
Another taxpayer complained that the new forms were causing delays.
“Naa pa gyud na ilang mga forms, daghan. Makalangan kay nay uban dili kahibaw mu-fill up. (Another thing is their forms, it’s so many. It is time-consuming especially for those who don’t know how to fill-up),” one taxpayer complained.
One person complained why they did not give extension on the final day.
“Why can’t they extend? Ingna lang gyud nga dili sila ganahan manukot (They don’t want to ask our taxes anymore),” one sarcastically asked.
Geraldino said they are imposing the cut-off time to instill discipline.
“All BIR offices are also imposing the cut off. We have to instill discipline so next time they will learn. We really are strict. Today really is the deadline,” he said.
But the BIR staff providing special areas for elderly, disabled and pregnant women with asistance from student interns coming from the University of Mindanao and University of Immaculate Concepcion.
“They have designated areas here and they have people to assist them in filling up the form. And there are lines each for senior citizens, disabled and pregnant women,” said one of the volunteers from University of Mindanao.
Geraldino said they prioritized assisting them since their office is high up at the sixth floor.
Nagahara Nawasaki, 65 years old, Japanese business man said that he and his wife were assisted in filing their ITR.
“We have waited for already two hours and we are almost finished,” Nawasaki said.
Geraldino said late taxpayers would face penalties such as surcharges.
“They could still file but there are already penalties. After the deadline, the penalties would be a 25 percent surcharge on the basic tax, 20 percent interest per year, and a compromise penalty ranging from P200 to P25, 000, depending on the unpaid tax,” Geraldino explained.
The BIR is targetting a collection P1.47-trillion in its tax collection this year, or 16.8 percent higher than its P1.21 trillion collection in 2012.
Davao City- THE Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR)-Davao region has given special attention to incapacitated tax payers on the last day for the submission of the 2013 income tax returns (ITRs).
“Syempre sila’y designated nga lugar para gyud ma-cater sila. Naa sab mag-assist sa ila labaw na sa pag fill up sa form. Gina-divide ang mga tables ug lines. Naa sa mga mga senior citizen. Naa sa mga disabled. Naa sa mga pregnant women,” volunteer, University of Mindanao.
“Naa sila sa 6th floor. Tabangan sila mag-fill up nya mag-assist sa ila sa pila,” BIR Davao officer-in-charge and regional director lawyer Glen A. Geraldino
Volunteers from University of Mindanao, University of Immaculate Concepcion interns were able to help.
Nagahara Nawasaki, 65 years old, Japanese business man said that he and his wife were assisted in filing their ITR.
“We have waited for already two hours and we are almost finish,” Nawasaki said.
“Yes, they could still file but there are already penalties. After the deadline, I you failed to file the penalties would be a 25 percent surcharge on the basic tax, 20 percent interest per year, and a compromise penalty ranging from P200 to P25, 000, depending on the unpaid tax,”Geraldino when asked as to what would happened to the tax payers who were not able to make it on the deadline.
“We have still to count. But we are expecting 23,000 tax payers within Davao City. And a total of 30,000 within the region. We believe that everything has been smoothly process so we could really expect a great number of tax payers for this year,” Geraldino said.
Manuelito Remedios, BIR security guard “Daghan na kayo tao. Wala pa nag-eight. Nagtapok na ang mga tao. Wala naman pong problema. May systema may iba lang na nagrereklamo agad. Maaga po nagbukas pero napakarami na po talagang nag-aantay.”
“Naa man sab lunch break diri pero naa man nagpuli sa mga stations para ma-entertain gyud tanan,” Remedios added.
As of 5 pm, there were still a lot of tax payers clamoring outside the gate and asking for an extension. Some convincing the security guards that they were already inside and just went outside.
As expected, a lot of negatives statements were given by the tax payers. The following are from people who refused to be named:
“Langan man gyud labaw na receiving area,” “Gaina ra man ko gahulat. Dugay muusad ang linya,” “Nganu dili mana sila ka-extend? Ingna lang gyud nga dili sila ganahan manukot,” “Naa pa gyud na ilang mga forms, daghan. Makalangan kay nay uban dili kahibaw mu-fill up.
“Ganyan talaga ang habit ng mga Pinoy. Masaya sila sa deadline. Which is not good,” Geraldino remarked.
“Wala naman sigurong naging problema. Medyo mainit lang. But we have really provided the best service we could. May mga matitigas lang talaga ang ulo,” Geraldino added.
Geraldino also added that online system filing and payment are up until 12 midnight but only those inside the BIR premises at 5 pm will be entertained until 10 pm for the deadline.
“All BIR offices are also imposing the cut off. We have to instill discipline para next time matuto na sila. We really are strict. Today really is the deadline,” Geraldino said. (davaotoday.com)
