The Inland Revenue Department (IRD) faced a surge of last-minute activity as taxpayers scrambled to file their income tax returns before the November 30 deadline.
According to a senior IRD official, the system experienced significant strain yesterday, with as many as 16,000 individuals attempting to log in simultaneously to complete their filings. This high volume led to technical issues, with many users reporting system crashes and difficulties completing their submissions.
Taxpayers expressed frustration, stating that repeated attempts to file their returns were met with system failures, forcing them to restart the process multiple times without success.
Compounding the issue, some areas, particularly in the North and East, were severely affected by flooding and power outages, leaving many unable to access the online platform.
The IRD has mandated that income tax returns be filed exclusively online, with exceptions allowed only upon special appeal to the Commissioner-General. The filing system had been operational since October 1, providing taxpayers with nearly two months to complete the process.
However, the official warned that those who miss the deadline could face penalties. As of last night, there was no confirmation from the IRD regarding a possible extension to accommodate those unable to file on time due to system overloads and the adverse weather conditions.
