Senator Sherwin Gatchalian (Senate PRIB)

As the deadline for the filing of income tax returns (ITR) approaches, Senator  Sherwin Gatchalian is urging taxpayers to settle their obligation as soon as possible. Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate Ways and Means committee, emphasized that as responsible citizens of the country, taxpayers have a collective obligation to pay the right amount of taxes due them. ‘’Revenues generated by the government enable the implementation of various programs and projects necessary to promote economic growth,” he said. The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has set a revenue collection target of ₱2.599 trillion for 2023 versus last year's actual tax haul of ₱2.3 trillion. “Wala nang dahilan pa ang mga taxpayers na hindi makapagfile ng kanilang income tax return bago o pagdating ng deadline lalo na’t maaari na silang pumunta saan mang branch ng BIR o bangkong otorisado ng BIR (There is no reason why taxpayers could not file their income tax return before or on the deadline particularly when they could go to BIR officers or to banks authorized by the BIR),” Gatchalian said. By virtue of Revenue Memorandum Circular (RMC) No. 32-2023, taxpayers can now file their 2022 Annual Income Tax Return (AITR) on or before the deadline of April 17 and pay the corresponding taxes anywhere, meaning through any BIR-authorized banks or revenue collection officers, and BIR district offices other than the one where the taxpayer is registered. Gatchalian also called on the BIR to accelerate its digitalization in order to further make it easy for taxpayers to settle their obligations. The lawmaker had earlier filed a bill seeking to empower taxpayers by educating them on their basic rights and obligations, which he hopes would subsequently enhance the government’s revenue-collection efforts. Under Senate Bill (SB) No. 1199, or the Taxpayers Bill of Rights and Obligations (TBORO), the senator seeks the creation of the Office of the Taxpayer Advocate, envisioned to ensure that taxpayers’ rights are safeguarded. According to Gatchalian, among the basic rights of taxpayers provided in the proposed measure is the right to participate in taxpayer dialogues and information or education campaigns of revenue authorities.