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by Ryan Chua, ABS-CBN News
MANILA – Senator Sonny Angara wants the system of filing taxes in the country made simple, noting the difficulties that taxpayers experienced until the last day of the filing of income tax returns this week.
Angara, chairman of the Senate ways and means committee, said in a statement he has long been pushing for the simplification of the tax filing process by minimizing the steps, requirements, forms, and fees imposed by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).
“While we laud the efforts of the BIR to make taxation more transparent and efficient by implementing the electronic filing and payment system, it seems that many still find the new system more cumbersome and costly,” he said. “Add to that the glitches on the BIR website and the unfamiliarity of some BIR officials who are expected to assist the confused taxpayers.”
Angara cited a report by the World Bank that shows Filipinos take an average of 193 hours or eight days to file taxes–slower than 173 hours in Cambodia, 155 hours in Myanmar, 133 hours in Malaysia, 93 hours in Brunei, and 82 hours in Singapore.
Angara said he has asked the BIR to come up with time and motion studies to see how the process can be simplified and shortened.
He said the country should not have a “one-size-fits all type of tax system.”
“Business tycoons who own multi-billion corporations have the same requirements as sari-sari store owners and sidewalk vendors who may not be computer literate. This should not be the case,” he said.
Angara urged the BIR to fix and upgrade its online tax filing system, and to make the process easier for small entrepreneurs.
“A simplified system coupled with updated and lowered tax rates would definitely increase compliance, widen the tax base, and raise revenue collection,” he said.
Photo: Senate
This article has been re-published with permission from ABS-CBNnews.com.
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