Baguio City to relax city-owned property tax policies and rental collection

Once the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) over Luzon has been lifted, the city government will implement relaxed policies for the payment of taxes and rent on city-owned properties as a way to help taxpayers who have to settle their dues.

City Budget Officer Leticia Clemente said that taxpayers who did not pay their quarterly business and real property taxes for March and June can settle their accounts until the end of the first semester. On the other hand, their remaining quarterly payments can be settled up to the end of 2020 without any penalties or surcharges.

But for those who were not able to pay their dues for January and February, Clemente said that there will still be penalties and surcharges.

For lessees of market stalls, spaces, and buildings in government properties

Moreover, the city budget officer said that those who lease market stalls, spaces or buildings in government properties will be given three (3) months to pay their dues for March and April.

Their outstanding balances for the said months will be equally divided and added to their payments for May, June, and July once the ECQ is lifted.

As for those lessees of market stalls and spaces in government buildings who were not able to operate for the duration of the ECQ, Clemente said that their rental payment for the said period will be waived by the city government.

Daily Taxes and Rental of Public Comfort Rooms

For daily taxes from market vendors in the city’s public market and rental payment for the operation of the public comfort rooms, collection has been suspended by the city government as well since these have not been operational during the ECQ.

Projected Collection of Taxes before ECQ

Previously, Baguio City finance officers projected that the collection of taxes for this year will bring:

• some P300 million in business taxes
• P110 million in real property taxes
• P800,000 monthly from daily taxes in the city public market
• P300,000 monthly rental for the operation of the public comfort rooms,
• P220 million share from the operation of locators in the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA)

Among other sources of the city’s income, this projection will support programs and projects that are approved under the city’s P2.255 billion annual budget.

But according to Clemente, these are just initial estimates of the city’s losses caused by the Luzonwide ECQ.

City to issue an ordinance for tax reprieve

The city’s lawmaking body is currently working on an ordinance that will provide tax relief to taxpayers in Baguio City.

 

SOURCE: Public Information Office-Baguio