By Chito Chavez
The Quezon City government in a bid to increase tax collection and provide its clients with a stress-free transaction process has initiated measures that would ease the tax payment scheme in anticipation of the influx of taxpayers in January 2020.
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte
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Mayor Joy Belmonte has simplified the process in the payment of business and real property taxes with the City Treasurer's Office taking the lead.
"Every January, the City Hall is filled with taxpayers who are dutifully settling their taxes. We are expecting around 75,000 to 80,000 taxpayers so we want to ensure that we can accommodate everyone with fast and efficient service," Belmonte said.
Starting January 2, the City Treasurer's Office located at the Quezon City Hall is prepared to accommodate clients from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. or until all the clients are finished from Mondays to Fridays, in addition to services during weekends.
From six steps, the City Treasurer's Office has reduced the process to four steps: fill up forms, evaluation and assessment, signature of the city treasurer, and lastly, payment.
She noted that overall, the estimated maximum processing time will be 30 minutes.
In addition, clients with seven or more transactions can proceed directly to the City Treasurer's Office located at the second floor of the Annex building of City Hall.
Senior citizens, persons with disabilities and pregnant women will also be given their own lines and comfortable waiting areas.
Car flow and foot traffic are also being planned within the city hall compound. Tents and seats are also installed around the City Treasurer's office.
Also, Belmonte has encouraged the concerned parties to visit the City Treasurer's Office branches located in Cubao, Galas, La Loma, Novaliches, and Talipapa and the recently opened QC Business Centers in SM North, Ali Mall and Robinsons Novaliches.
The Quezon City government is also set to open Business Centers in Fairview Terraces, Fishermall, and Robinsons Magnolia soon.
"We are bringing our city hall system closer to our people through our business centers. Instead of traveling to city hall, our citizens can also do their transactions and payments in these centers," Belmonte added.
City Treasurer Edgar Villanueva reminded city hall clients to bring their complete documents to avoid any delay in the transaction.
The documents should include the 2019 business permit, 2019 tax bill and official receipt received from the City Treasurer's Office, 2019 certified breakdown of sales.
In case of two or more lines of businesses/two or more branches, clients must bring 2019 value added tax returns or percentage tax returns, whichever is applicable, and 2018 annual income tax returns with complete set of audited financial statement, with proof of payment.