BONTOC, Mountain Province – To entice the taxpayers to pay their taxes, the provincial government headed by Governor Bonifacio C. Lacwasan Jr. offers discounts for advance and prompt payments of real property taxes (RPT).
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 250 of RA 7160, otherwise known as the “Local Government Code of 1991”; as implemented under Provincial Ordinance No. 101, s. 2010, otherwise known as “The Updated Revenue Code of Mountain Province”, notice is hereby given anent the payment of the 1% Basic Real Property Tax and the additional 1% for the Special Education Fund Tax due this province for Calendar Year 2016.
Provincial Treasurer Cawed A. Gamonnac said that the discounts are embodied in an existing revenue ordinance of the province that provides financial incentives to early taxpayers.
The taxes collected, in turn, will help the province lock up revenues and enable the financial planners to plan the budgeting of income and expenditures to efficiently deliver basic services to the constituents.
As per notice, to be soon circulated and posted to conspicuous spaces around the province, the one percent (1%) basic tax and the one percent (1%) special education fund (SEF) shall be collected simultaneously. A ten percent (10%) discount of the total current tax is being granted to those who pay promptly within the prescribe period of payment. Furthermore, a taxpayer is also entitled to a twenty percent (20%) discount for advance payment if he/she pays his/her real property tax before January 1, 2017.
For the information of the public, taxpayers are given the option or convenience to where they want to pay their taxes. Payments can be done at the office of the provincial treasurer or at the municipal treasury office where the property is located.
Payments can be paid in full or in four (4) equal installments, without interest, provided, that payments are made within the allowed period. The first installment is payable on or before March 31, 2017; second installment is on or before June 30, 2017; third and fourth installment is on or before September 30, 2017 and on or before December 31, 2017 respectively.
But one time advance payment is being encouraged by office concern to avail of the discounts.
It is to be noted that Hedcor- Sabangan Inc. which is being cited as the highest tax payer in the province availed of twenty percent discount (20%), equivalent to a total amount of Four million eight hundred twelve thousand seven hundred sixty eight and 47/100 pesos (P 4,812,768.47) for this current year for advance payment.
On the other hand, provincial revenue code states that failure on the part of the taxpayers to pay real property taxes for both BASIC and SEF on or before the dates indicated shall subject the taxpayer to the payment of interest at a rate of two percent (2%) of the amount of delinquent tax, for each month of delinquency until the tax has been fully paid, but not to exceed 36 months. By Alfred F. Macalling
