By Gerardo R. Partido
Variety News Staff

THE Department of Revenue and Taxation foresees no problems with today’s tax filing deadline.
In an interview with Variety, DRT director Art Ilagan said his department is well prepared to handle last minute filers that may converge on the DRT office today.
Traffic is expected to be heavier than usual within and near the DRT office in Barrigada but Ilagan said personnel have been deployed to help assist with traffic, along with Guam Police Department officers.
GPD is also advising tax filers to be cautious when leaving their vehicles at the DRT parking lot. According to Alan Guzman, GPD public information officer, several cars were broken into at the DRT parking lot on Friday afternoon when things started to get busy at DRT.
According to Ilagan, DRT is putting up tables outside the main office to facilitate the faster processing of tax returns. People who just need to submit their tax returns can do so outside and don’t need to go into the building.
Another measure that DRT has adopted is the creation of a separate desk for earned income tax processing.
Ilagan said the department saw a need for a separate EITC desk because there are now more people inquiring about and being processed for EITC.
“We are doing this so as not to inconvenience those who are just filing tax returns,” Ilagan said. So far, about $1 million worth of EITC checks have yet to be collected.
Ilagan also reminded people that they can file electronically through www.myguamtax.com.
Residents who are single or are married with no dependents can file their tax over the Internet. Businesses can also have their gross receipts tax done online as long as they have a special tax personal identity number.
With the government of Guam facing a number of financial difficulties, Ilagan is encouraging everyone to file and pay their taxes within the deadline.
DRT is open today from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. but for those who cannot file within these hours, Ilagan said there will be a special box where people can drop off their returns until midnight.