At A Glance
- Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian has called on the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to ensure the full and effective implementation of the Ease of Paying Taxes (EOPT) Act with the April 15 deadline fast approaching.
As the April 15 deadline for the filing of annual income tax returns (ITRs) approaches, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian called on the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to ensure the full and effective implementation of the law that makes filing of such document easier and faster.
Gatchalian is referring to the Ease of Paying Taxes (EOPT) Act, or Republic Act No. 11976, signed in 2024 which modernizes Philippine tax administration enabling tax payers to comply through a simplified or digital process.
The EOPT Act was designed to make tax compliance simpler, particularly for small taxpayers, including micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
“Isinulong natin ang EOPT dahil ang pagpapasimple ng proseso ng pagbabayad ng buwis ay susi sa pagpapalakas ng koleksyon ng kita ng pamahalaan (We promoted the EOPT because simplifying the tax payment process is key to strengthening government revenue collection),” said Gatchalian.
Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, is principal author of the law.
The EOPT law primarily aims to streamline tax filing by introducing a file-and-pay-anywhere system and enabling most transactions to be completed online.
It classifies taxpayers into micro, medium, and large categories based on gross sales, allowing for a more responsive tax system tailored to each segment.
Moreover, the law mandates a shift to an invoice-based system to simplify registration and expedite the processing of value-added tax (VAT) refunds.
Gatchalian said it is imperative for the government to ensure that reforms under the EOPT law are “fully felt on the ground.”