Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso signed on Thursday, September 23, Ordinance No. 8773 granting General Tax Amnesty to delinquent business and real property taxes, as well as traffic violations, in a bid to help businesses recover amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
In a set of photos posted on his official Facebook account, Domagoso, together with Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna, showed the official circular of Ordinance No. 8773 which grants amnesty to surcharges, penalties, and interest incurred due to delinquent business taxes, real property taxes, and traffic violations.
Domagoso said that because of the pandemic, a large number of businesses and establishments have shut down, causing a lot of people to lose their jobs and livelihood.
To help them, the mayor submitted a letter to the City Council requesting for the enactment of an ordinance granting a general amnesty to all delinquent business taxes, real property taxes, regulatory fees, and other service charges.
Under the ordinance, Domagoso said tax amnesty shall be granted to the following:
1. Persons who own, operate or are engaged in any business enterprise within the City of Manila
2. Persons who own or administer real property declared for the first time subject to back taxes
3. Persons who own or administer any delinquent real property with or without notices of collection
4. Persons who have violated traffic and parking rules imposed under the Manila Traffic Code and the No Contact Apprehension Program
5. Persons who have pending local tax cases before any judicial, quasi-judicial, or administrative body concerning local business taxes, fees and charges or real property taxes
“All corresponding accrued surcharge and interest penalties which any delinquent tax, regulatory fee or service charge may have incurred shall be deemed waived upon full payment of the principal amount of the basic tax, fee or charge within the period of effectivity of this Code,” the ordinance read.
"The proposed general amnesty will, to a certain extent, cushion the socio-economic impact brought about by the pandemic and greatly help local businesses and property owners to recover from their losses," the ordinance read.The ordinance will take effect on October 1, 2021, and will last until December 29, 2021.
The ordinance will take effect on October 1, 2021, and will last until December 29, 2021.
Domagoso assured the public that the local government is doing everything it can to help ease the burden of people and businesses due to the pandemic and promised that the LGU will create more programs for the benefit of Manileños.