As the April 15 deadline for the annual income tax filing deadline approaches, many taxpayers, especially freelancers, MSMEs, and self-employed professionals, are at a loss – what to do.
For Jay Olos, Founder and Chairman of the OneCFO Group, the company behind the DocTax platform, said the issue is not that people do not want to comply. More often, they simply do not know where to start or how to make sense of tax rules in a practical way.
Olos said this points to a deeper issue: tax-related resources may be available, but they are not always presented in a way that feels clear, practical, or approachable to everyday users. Taxpayers need support to be able to comply.
“The real issue is not the absence of information, but how difficult it can be to turn that information into something clear and actionable,” Olos said. “When tax guidance feels too technical or disconnected from real-life concerns, people are more likely to hesitate. We believe that has to change.”
This is where DocTax is trying to address. Built around a mix of AI-powered tax guidance and access to verified professionals, the platform is designed to make tax concerns easier to grasp at the first point of inquiry, while allowing more complex matters to be escalated to qualified experts.
The model reflects a broader shift already seen across digital finance and fintech. Users no longer want information alone. They want tools that reduce friction, respond faster, and make important decisions easier to act on. In that sense, tax support is beginning to move in the same direction: toward a more user-centered experience.
But in a space as sensitive as taxation, convenience alone is not enough. Trust matters just as much.
This is where the human layer becomes important. While technology can help simplify initial questions, tax remains an area where people still want the reassurance that more nuanced concerns can be guided by real expertise. For DocTax, that means creating a model where digital access and professional support work together.
Trust issue
Joel Tan-Torres, former Commissioner of the Bureau of Internal Revenue, former Chairman of the Board of Accountancy of the Philippines, and Board Director and Angel Investor supporting DocTax, sees this as part of a broader need within the Philippine tax environment.
“Tax systems work better when people understand them better. One of the longstanding gaps in our environment is that tax knowledge is often available in theory, but not always accessible in a practical, understandable way. Any effort that helps bridge that gap, while still respecting the role of qualified professionals, can contribute meaningfully to a healthier tax culture,” Tan-Torres said.
He emphasized that DocTax is not being positioned as a replacement for accountants or tax professionals. Instead, it presents technology as a more approachable entry point, one that can help users ask better questions, understand concerns more clearly, and seek expert guidance with greater confidence.
This matters for MSMEs, freelancers, and individual taxpayers alike as they are trying to stay compliant while also managing limited time, limited resources, and limited access to personalized support. When tax assistance feels too complicated or too distant, hesitation becomes common, and compliance becomes harder than it needs to be.
That is where the real opportunity lies: not just in offering another digital tool, but in improving how people experience tax guidance in the first place, Olos pointed out.
“We believe tax guidance should be easier to access, easier to understand, and better connected to real expertise,” Olos said. “If we can help make that journey simpler for MSMEs, freelancers, and everyday taxpayers, then we are helping solve a very real problem.”
As the April 15 filing deadline draws near, the need for clearer and more accessible tax guidance becomes more than a convenience. For many taxpayers, it becomes essential, he pointed out.
