Malolos City – Good news to residents of this capital city of Bulacan.
Malolos Mayor Christian Natividad has signed City Ordinance No. 35-2023 giving a tax break to real property owners in the city by condoning all penalties and surcharges on unpaid real property tax (RPT) from December 31, 2022 and prior years.
The ordinance, also known as Kapasiyahan Panlungsod Blg. 35-2023 of ‘Tax Amnesty 2023 for Real Property Owners of Malolos’ was authored by city councilor Niño Bautista.
The final committee hearing and deliberation on the tax measure was held last July 7 and was unanimously approved by the city council five days later before it was signed by Mayor Natividad over the weekend.
Section 2 of the ordinance specifically condones all interests, penalties and surcharges of delinquent real property owners of unpaid RPT from Dec. 31, 2022 and prior years and allows taxpayers from August 1 to December 31, 2023 to settle their back taxes without penalties.
“The tax amnesty will give relief especially to real property owners who were unable to settle their annual payments of ‘amilyar’ due to the effects of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic,” Natividad said.
Giving enough tax incentives to Malolenyo taxpayers was attuned to President Ferdinand Marcos’ appeal to local executives to innovate measures that will assist residents cope up with the spiraling prices of basic commodities, the mayor said.
The ordinance tasked the office of City Treasurer Anthony Mendoza to supervise and take charge of implementing the tax amnesty. After Dec. 31, the arrears or tax due on delinquent real property owners will revert back to their original assessments.
Under the law, taxpayers are given 15 percent discount for early or advance payments of RPT while a two percent penalty is slapped on late payments which falls on March 31, annually.
During the deliberation of the tax measure, Mendoza cited that the City Government’s tax collection was down by P165-Million due to the effects of the pandemic.
“Hopefully, this tax amnesty will attract more investors and businessmen to come to Malolos where they are assured of a governance that supports small and medium enterprises to grow their business,” Mayor Natividad said.
Recently, the city government completed an array of public infrastructures that enhances delivery of basic services particularly the Regional Evacuation Center building and the CDRRMO Central Office that have efficient answered the emergency needs of city residents during last week’s flooding due to typhoon ‘Dodong’.
The re-opening of the newly remodeled Malolos Sports and Convention Center was also slated in time for the
FIBA world competitions. The facility is world-class and FIBA-compliant, capable of hosting international basketball games.