By Dhel Nazario
Makati City urged its property owners to pay early their Real Property Tax (RPT) to avail of the 10 percent discount given to payments made before January 20.
Makati Mayor Abby Binay (My Makati / MANILA BULLETIN)
Makati City Mayor Abigail Binay urged real property owners in the city to pay their taxes way ahead of the deadline to also avoid the inconvenience caused by long queues as the deadline nears.
“I encourage real property owners in Makati to beat the deadline and get 10 percent off their tax dues. Our Realty Tax Division is open to accept payments even on Saturdays to accommodate ‘early birds’ who wish to avoid the rush and take advantage of the discount as well,” Mayor Abby said.
The mayor said aside from its regular operations from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Mondays to Fridays, the Realty Tax Division, with offices at the 2nd floor of Makati City Hall Building I, will also be open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays until December 14. Succeeding weekend schedules for January will be announced later.
For business owners, the mayor said the Business Permit and Licensing Office (BPLO) has also started accepting applications for renewal, advance assessment and payments for business taxes, and will be issuing the Mayor’s permit upon completion of all requirements.
Businesses that may apply for renewal in advance include dental and medical clinics, representative offices, non-stock/non-profit organization, regional headquarters and regional operating headquarters, sari-sari stores/carinderias/metrostrores, real estate lessors, law offices and other professional practices, cooperatives, and common carriers.
RPT collection usually starts on the first working day of January until January 20. The succeeding quarterly payments shall be made until April 20 (second quarter), July 20 (third quarter, and October 20 (fourth quarter). The city offers a five-percent discount for quarterly payments made before the deadline for each quarter.
Annual realty tax payments made after March will be charged an eight percent penalty, while late quarterly payments will incur a penalty of two percent per month.
Meanwhile, penalties on late payments of business taxes include a surcharge of 25 percent and two percent penalty per month of delay until the amount due is fully settled.