Iloilo offers tax amnesty until December 31
THE Iloilo Provincial Government encouraged Ilonggos to avail themselves of its real property tax amnesty until the end of the year.
Delinquent taxpayers have until December 31, 2019 to settle their debts without having to pay the penalties and interests.
Provincial Treasurer Jean Maire Umadhay said the Capitol will start receiving payment on October 7.
"This is your chance to take advantage of the relief and pay your taxes minus the penalties," Umadhay said.
The Provincial Treasurer's Office (PTO) will have a launching in every district to disseminate the program.
The schedules are as follows:
* September 25 - Anilao (4th district)
* September 30 - Sta. Barbara (2nd district)
* October 2 - Oton (1st district)
* October 3 - Sara (5th district)
* October 4 - Pototan (3rd district)
Last August, the Provincial Board passed a resolution embodying Provincial Ordinance 2019-198, which grants tax relief to delinquent real property taxpayers.
The relief is applicable only to the following: real properties that are declared and subject to taxes; real properties that are declared and the real property tax has not been paid; and delinquent properties auctioned by the province and for lack of bidders, were subsequently bought by the province of Iloilo.
Real properties with pending cases in court and those paid under a compromise agreement are not covered by the amnesty.
The resolution, authored by Fourth District Board Member Domingo Oso Jr. Oso, recognized that many taxpayers in Iloilo, particularly the farmers and landowners, failed to pay their taxes as they were adversely affected by El Niño.
Last May, the province was placed under a state of calamity due to huge damages in agricultural crops. Oso also noted other economic conditions such as increase in oil prices and other agricultural inputs, which hampered farmers from paying their taxes promptly. (PR)
