[ manilastandardtoday.com ] December 30, 2009
ParaÑaque City Mayor Florencio Bernabe Jr. has declared a tax holiday for real property owners.
He signed Ordinance 09-15 authorizing Jan. 1 to March 31, 2010 as the period for taxpayers to avail of amnesty on surcharges and interests.
Bernabe said the measure cited economic constraints caused by recent calamities had justified the relief.
“Because of the aforementioned recession and the impact of typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng on the homes and properties of the residents of the city, their financial difficulties need to be alleviated,” the ordinance stated.
Councilor Florante Romey Jr., one of the authors, said the recession has resulted in increased unemployment rates, business slowdown, reduced economic growth, and loss of income and economic opportunities to many residents.
Covered in the tax relief are properties and additional improvements that have not been declared for assessment purposes by owners and are not in the Assessment Rolls of the city government and those whose real property taxes have remained unpaid in the last five years.
Under the Parañaque Revenue Code, the City Treasurer can collect realty tax due plus surcharges and interests covering a 10-year period.
Instead of computing the 10-year tax due, Romey said a five-year period would be used.
To avail of the tax amnesty, property owners should voluntarily declare their new properties or any of its additional improvements during the tax holiday.
The taxpayers will also be entitled to payment discount provided they settle the assessed tax value without any penalties and surcharges within the three-month period.
Owners of declared real property who have unpaid taxes for the last five years will also be exempted from surcharges and penalties if they settle their delinquency before March 31, 2010.
Property owners who have recently been issued notice of delinquencies by the City Treasurer are not covered by the tax holiday, according to the ordinance. Those who will not take advantage of the amnesty will be assessed for the entire 10-year period. Ferdinand Fabella
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