The Bureau of Internal Revenue said Monday it will accept payments of annual income tax returns from the public through the mobile payment system provided by Globe Telecom Inc.
BIR deputy commissioner Nelson Aspe said the relaunch of the electronic tax payment through Globe G-cash would ease the process of paying the annual income tax returns due on April 15.
“I think the G-cash mechanism… would ease [the process] of paying taxes,” Aspe said during the launch of the payment system in Quezon City.
Aspe, however, said that before using the mobile payment system, the taxpayer should first file their income tax returns through the e-BIR electronic filing system.
BIR and Globe teamed up with the United States Agency for International Development in developing the system.
“This an event to celebrate because it is a significant milestone. It is designed to help raise money for the government. The ease of e-filing and e-payment is transparent. It’s gonna change BIR in the future,” USAID facilitating public investment project and e-Peso activity chief of party Bill Gardner said.
G-cash Xchange Inc. chief executive Albert Tinio said about 2 million G-cash application users at the moment could use the application.
BIR said it aimed to increase tax collection for the country’s growing needs for basic infrastructure and social programs necessary to reduce poverty.
“The continuous payment of right taxes will sustain the growth of the Philippines,” said BIR commissioner Kim Henares.
G-cash was first introduced for national tax payments in 2005. It was expanded to allow payments for all types of taxes.
BIR also works with local and national government agencies to increase public’s awareness through the e-Bayad campaigns and enable usage of electronic payments in government transactions.
G-cash is a mobile money platform that transforms mobile phone into virtual wallet for secure, fast, convenient and most affordable money transfers and access to financial service.