A councilor has proposed a five-year limit on tax assessments on buildings and improvements in Quezon City, a measure he termed as “pro-poor.”
District 1 Councilor Victor Ferrer Jr. said his proposed ordinance would not sacrifice the city government’s revenues, and told taxpayers “this is now your opportunity to avail of the amnesty.”
A certified public accountant, Ferrer filed a measure titled “An Ordinance Imposing a Five-Year Limit on Assessment on Buildings and Improvements Declared for the First Time for Real-Property Taxation.”
He said it is designed to grant tax relief to owners of buildings and improvements “who shall declare the same for the first time for real-estate taxes by imposing a limitation on the assessment to five years without interest or penalty.”
“The city government shall also benefit from the tax relief herein granted by an increase of declarations of real properties, unto which taxes shall be assessed and collected,” Ferrer said.
He said Rodolfo Ordanes of the Office of the City Assessor would then assess the property based on its current valuation.
“On the other hand, the city treasurer shall collect back taxes up to five years only, notwithstanding that subject buildings and improvements were built, erected or constructed earlier than said period,” Ferrer added.
If the building or construction was completed under that period, the councilor said all taxes for the corresponding years and quarters “shall become due.”
“If taxes are paid within 30 days from receipt of assessment, the interests and penalties shall be waived. Interest and penalty shall commence to run thereafter,” he added.
Last year, Ferrer filed “An Ordinance Amending Ordinance No. SP-2344, Series of 2014, Extending the Deadline for the Delinquent Beneficiaries the Period to Avail the Provisions Thereof, from October 5, 2016 to October 5, 2017” applicable for socialized housing program.
“This is another pro-poor measure providing the restructuring of arrearages,” he noted.
The restructuring of account program shall be availed of by the awardee-beneficiaries under the socialized housing project (direct sale) upon the effectivity of the guidelines and may be extended upon written approval of the city mayor.
“There is a need to provide sufficient time to enable delinquent beneficiaries to correct their arrears and update their amortization payments without penalties or interests,” Ferrer said.
He said the city government is “compassionate, and not confiscatory.”
“We want to show to all that the government of Mayor Herbert Bautista is pro-poor. Our record will speak for itself,” he pointed out.