By Antonio Colina IV
DAVAO CITY – The city government of Davao will open an online payment system to provide business owners a more convenient way to settle their taxes starting January 7, 2018, City Treasurer’s Office acting head Erwin Alparaque said.
City Hall of Davao
(RENE B. LUMAWAG|MANILA BULLETIN)
Alparaque said the city government has arranged with two government-owned banks -- Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) and Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) -- to allow local establishments here to utilize their online facilities to pay for their taxes.
“What will be the procedure? The business establishment operator will secure the business tax order of payment from the City Treasurer’s Office and they could pay for it online, they could use the credit card, debit card, or through cellphones – in same manner what we are doing in paying our bills online,” he said.
The implementation of the new online payment system seeks to decongest the crowded City Treasurer’s Office located inside the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) building, Alaparaque said.
The official said owners of the businesses in the city with principal offices elsewhere in the country can pay for their taxes online.
“This online payment could be availed by the tax payers as an option. They can still pay here at the City Treasurer’s Office, in all the district treasury offices of the CTO,” he said.
Upon making online payment, Alparaque said the tax payers will get confirmation slips from the bank that they must present to the City Treasurer’s Office to get a copy of the business permits and the official receipts.
Alparaque added the City Government of Davao has also extended the deadline of the renewal of business permits from January 21 to January 31, 2019 to allow business owners more time to process their documents.
He said the extension was implemented in accordance with Republic Act 11032, also known as the “Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018.”
He said the Business Bureau will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on all Saturdays of January to accommodate taxpayers.
He added that an off-site one-stop shop has been set up since January 3 at the Davao City Recreational Center (DCRC) so that taxpayers will have another option where to process the renewal of their business permits.
“They will have no reason to delay the renewal of their business permits and the payments of the business taxes. If they fail to renew and pay for their business taxes, other fees and charges before January 21, they will suffer the burden of paying the surcharge of 25% and interest of 2% per month,” he said.
A press release issued by the City Information Office said the requirements for those renewing their business and mayor’s permits are: previous Mayor’s and Business Permits, previous receipts, notarized list of all employees, and authority to transact the renewal of the Mayor’s Permit with the Business Bureau - a Special Power of Attorney for Sole Proprietorship, Secretary Certificate for Corporations and Partnership Resolution for Partnerships, clear photocopy of valid IDs of all signatories, original Barangay Clearance for business purposes, Fire Safety Inspection Certificate, Certified copy of proof of exemption, if any, and available financial statement of the previous year.