Davao City – The Davao City government is optimistic to hit its tax collection target this year despite some challenges during the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.
As of September 2020, the city government has collected ₱ 8.2 billion pesos from local taxes, service income, business income, economic enterprise, other income, and share from the internal revenue allotment (IRA).
This is an 80.27 percent of the ₱ 10.3 billion target collection for 2020. The current collection also poses a higher amount of ₱ 1.2 billion compared to the ₱ 7 billion collected taxes for the same period of 2019.
A chunk of the collection came from local taxes that amounted to ₱ 3.3 billion. However, CTO has pointed out the decrease in service, business income, and economic enterprise was due to the closure of establishments during lockdown and restriction measures during the community quarantine.
“In order to meet the City’s target collection by the end of the year, the City Treasurer’s Office and other revenue-generating offices, such as the Business Bureau, are conducting intensified monitoring to ensure compliance to the necessary permits and to collect the taxes due to the City,” said Atty. Lawrence Bantiding, the head of the City Treasurer’s Office (CTO).
CTO has also intensified its information dissemination on the payment deadlines for taxes and other fees.
Another factor of achieving the city’s target collection is Ordinance No. 0218-20 or the Tax Amnesty or Relief from Delinquent Real Property Tax.
“We have already collected a total of ₱ 27,925,174.51 from delinquencies. This will contribute to our efforts to achieve our target,” said Bantiding.
The ordinance applies to assessed penalties and interest on delinquent back taxes relating to real properties as of December 31, 2019, and prior years. All accrued penalties and interest shall be condoned only upon settlement of RPT within 6 months from the effectivity of the Ordinance. Those who have RPT delinquencies can avail of this until January 9, 2021.
Taxpayers may pay their business taxes and real property taxes by visiting the City Treasurer’s Office every weekday from 8 AM to 5 PM.
For business taxpayers, they may also pay online through the Landbank portal. For details on the procedure, they can visit the City Government of Davao website at www.davaocity.gov.ph.
(City Information Office | OIC Michael Manguhig, RPN DXKT Davao)
