QUEZON CITY, April 14 — The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), in partnership with GCash mobile money service, is relaunching the first mobile payment system in the country on 12 April 2016. Together with the USAID Facilitating Public Investment Project and the USAID E-PESO Activity, this computerization and digitization reform measure aims to improve tax collection and administration, curb corruption, and strengthen business climate in the country.
GCash was first introduced for tax payments in 2005. In line with the BIR’s thrust to expand the provision of electronic services, most notably with the release of eBIRForms v6 (an enhanced e-filing software that can serve all taxpayers), the use of GCash is now expanded to allow payments for all types of taxes.
GCash 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. This mobile payment system of the BIR provides an expedient way of payment of internal revenue taxes. Instead of paying with cash or check and lining up at one of the Accredited Agent Banks (AABs) of BIR, taxpayers can use a mobile phone to pay their tax dues.
The BIR worked with Globe to enhance the GCash facility to better serve and ease the burden of the taxpayers in paying internal revenue taxes with forty five (45) BIR forms available for payment to BIR from previously five form series. An affordable service fee will be charged to substitute the cost incurred for transportation expenses ranging from P10 up to 1.2% of the amount payable above P10,000, aside from the time savings.
With the GCash Mobile Payment System, taxpayers can use their mobile phone to pay for their taxes in a few minutes instead of going to the Revenue Collection Officers at the Revenue District Offices or Authorized Agent Banks. Paying with GCash is simple: (1) Download the GCash App from Play Store for Android and register; (2) Fund the GCash account from any GCash Partner Outlet; and (3) Initiate payment via the GCash App. A GCash-enabled SIM is needed to use the GCash app. GCash wallet can be funded for free through GCash Partner Outlets (GPO) and Mobile Phone Banking with BPI.
All taxpayers who are Globe /TM customers registered with GCash are eligible to use this facility. For more information, please visit www.knowyourtaxes.com.ph/gcash or www.globe.com.ph/GCash. (BIR)