BIR sets up "Tulungan Centers" for taxpayers

To better serve taxpayers, the Bureau of Internal Revenue has set up "Tulungan Centers" so that taxpayers can meet the deadline for the filing of income tax returns on April 16.

Here in Cebu, the Tax Tulungan Center is at the upper ground floor of the SM City Cebu.

The center will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. to receive ITRs with no payments, second installment and with refundable taxes.

For the convenience of taxpayers, the different BIR district offices will also be open on April 14 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

BIR''s Accredited Agent Banks (AABs) will also be extending their banking hours up to 5 p.m. from April 1 to 16 to accept tax payments.

The AABs include all the branches of the Development Bank of the Philippines and Land Bank of the Philippines and all the accredited branches of Security Bank and Trust Co. and Equitable PCI Bank.

Also, the Equitable PCI Bank branches on F. Gonzales St. and the North Reclamation Area, Cebu, City will be open on April 14 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

BIR Director Jaime Santiago is encouraging taxpayers who have pending delinquent accounts and assessments to avail themselves of the extension of the one-time administrative abatement where all interests, surcharges and penalties can be cancelled if the taxpayer pays the basic tax due on or before June 29, 2007 under Revenue Memorandum Circular 24-2007.

The abatement program, however, is not available to taxpayers who have already paid a portion of their tax liabilities, as well as tax cases on which the Philippine Commission on Good Government has an interest in. - Jasmin R. Uy/QSB