Bontoc, Mountain Province –Early taxpayers in Mountain Province will enjoy discounts from the municipal treasury offices as the implementing arm of the Provincial Treasury Office (PTO).
As in the past years, the Provincial Government of Mountain Province grants discounts for taxpayers who will settle their real property and business obligations ahead of the deadlines set next year.
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 of the province.
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 regarding the payment of the one percent Basic Real Property Tax (RPT) and the additional one percent for the Special Education Fund (SEF) Tax due this province for Calendar Year 2018.
Notices have already been circulated and posted in conspicuous spaces around the province, announcing that the one percent basic tax and the one percent Additional Tax (SEF) shall be collected simultaneously. A 10% discount of the total current tax is being granted to those who pay promptly within the prescribed period of payment. Further, a taxpayer is also entitled to a 20% discount for advance payment if he/she pays his/her RPT before January 1, 2018.
For the information of the public, taxpayers are given the option or convenience as 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 equal installments, without interest, provided, that payments are made within the allowed period. The first installment is payable on or before March 31, 2018; second installment is on or before June 30, 2018; third installment is on or before September 30, 2018 and fourth installment is on or before December 31, 2018.
The provincial revenue code provides 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 of the amount of delinquent tax, for each month of delinquency until the tax has been fully paid, but not to exceed 36 months.
With this, Gamonnac is encouraging tax payers to pay their obligations earlier not to be charged with interest.
It is to be noted that the PTO is exerting all efforts, and conducting a tax information and dissemination campaign and dialogue with the all the stakeholders down to barangay level to come up with measures and strategies to intensify collections.
By Alpine L. Killa
