The city government of Makati is extending its office hours to accommodate residents and businessmen paying taxes.
In its advisory, the city’s public information office stated that frontline departments at city hall will remain open until 7 p.m. on weekdays and from 8 am to 5 p.m. on Jan. 14 and 15 to receive business and real property tax payments.
Satellite realty tax payment centers will also be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on scheduled dates in 31 barangays of the city, beginning Tuesday. The first payment centers will be open in Bel-Air and Dasmariñas from Jan. 3 to 4, followed by Magallanes on Jan. 5 to 6; and San Lorenzo on Jan. 6 to 7.
This first week of January, the Business Permits and Licensing Office at the ground floor of City Hall Building II will be open until 7 p.m. on weekdays, and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 7 and 8.
On the second week until the Jan. 20 deadline, BPLO will be open to serve clients until 10 p.m. on weekdays, and from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 14 and 15.
Until Jan. 20, the Realty Tax Division at the second floor of City Hall Main Building will also be open until 7 p.m. on weekdays, and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
Meanwhile, the schedule for realty tax payment in the rest of the barangays is as follows: Forbes Park and Urdaneta (Jan. 9); Bangkal, Pio del Pilar, San Isidro, Palanan, and San Antonio (Jan. 10); La Paz, Sta. Cruz, Singkamas, Tejeros, and Kasilawan (Jan. 11); Carmona, Olympia, Valenzuela, Poblacion, and Guadalupe Viejo (Jan. 12); Guadalupe Nuevo, Pinagkaisahan, Pitogo, Cembo, and South Cembo (Jan. 13).
The last batch to open payment centers will consist of West Rembo, East Rembo, Comembo, Pembo, and Rizal (Jan. 16).
Real Property Tax collection starts on the first working day of January until Jan. 20. The succeeding quarterly payments shall be made until April 20 (second quarter), July 20 (third quarter, and Oct. 20 (fourth quarter).
Makati offers a 10-percent discount on realty taxes paid on an annual basis, and five percent for quarterly payments made during the first 20 days of the quarter. However, annual realty tax payments made after March will be charged an eight percent penalty, while late quarterly payments will incur a penalty of two percent per month.
Meanwhile, penalties on late payments of business taxes include a 25-percent surcharge and a two percent penalty per month of delay until the amount due is fully settled.