The city government of Tacloban expects to surpass its business tax collection target in 2017 as the annual registration and renewal of business permits begins this month.
“Last year, the collection reached more than a billion pesos, an all-time high since “Yolanda.” This means that businesses are thriving and booming in the city. And of course this is very good news,” said Tacloban City Mayor Cristina Gonzales Romualdez.
City Treasurer Zosima Cordaῆo projects the city government will collect around P130 million in business taxes, based on the actual collection of the same period last year. A 25-percent surcharge and 2-percent interest will be imposed on late applications.
The streamlined business registration and renewal center opened on Jan. 3 at the spacious ground floor of the newly constructed city hall building, at the back of the old one.
A total of 126 business permits and nine transport permits were released on that day. More than 7,000 existing and new businesses are expected to register on or before Jan. 20.
“We are proud that the renewal process takes only one hour if all requirements are met. We also initiated the Electronic Payment Portal (EPP) System late last year, which has greatly facilitated the renewal. Business Permits, Real Property and Transportation Taxes can be renewed and paid online,” said Corina Cadavis, Head of the Business Permits and Licensing Division.