BIR issues simplified ITR form for self-employed, allows online filing

As the tax season comes,  self-employed individuals and professionals will now have fewer pages to fill out when declaring their income tax return (ITR).

The new ITR form -- reduced from 12 pages to two pages -- can also be filed online.

A report on the "State of the Nation with Jessica Soho" said that the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) hopes to ease the burden of self-employed individuals, professionals and those doing freelance work with the new form.

The issuance is contained in Revenue Memorandum Circular No. 17-2019, which prescribes the new BIR Form No. 1701A  or the Annual Income Tax Return for Individuals Earning Purely from Business/Profession.

Individuals earning P3 million or less per year only need to fill out a two-page form, while a four-page form is required for those earning more than P3 million a year.

Marissa Diola, BIR regional district office supervisor, said, "Kakalabas lang ng BIR Form na 1701 A pero ito lang ay para sa mga individual na purely business o kaya in the conduct of their profession."

"Di ba sinimplify na lang natin na meron tayong eight percent na based on gross. Ito po ang gagamitin nila...pero may lalabas pa po na isa pang return 'yun ay para doon sa mga business din siya pero itemized po 'yung deduction niya isa-isa," she added.

Aside from the reduced number of pages, the ITR can also be filed online.

"Doon sa website kailangan i-download E-BIR Form. Ang latest ay ang 7.3 version para mapalabas ang bagong form na 1701 A," Diola said. "'Pag na-open mo na siya dapat importante may Tax Identification Number (TIN). Valid ang TIN, tyaka pangalan."

She added, "Importante diyan valid TIN Number mo tapos i-seselect 'yung RDO Code kung saan...ilagay pangalan mo 'yung TIN, Zip code, telephone number. Tapos diyan sa list ng BIR Form may i-fifill up ka diyan i-seselect kung anong klaseng return ang iyong hahanapin."

The BIR official said the online filing can be made if one has no payables to the BIR.

"Hindi na kami tumatanggap ng no payment returns. Talagang online na po kami," Diola said. —Kaela Malig/ LDF, GMA News