Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada announced on Wednesday that city taxpayers have until Feb. 9, 2018 to settle their business taxes, permits and licenses and fees without surcharge or penalty.
The extension of the deadline for payments of all taxes licenses and fees was made following the approval of the City Council of City Resolution No. 8, series of 2018.
The resolution was passed through the mayor’s initiative as he wrote to the City Council to accommodate the volume of taxpayers queuing last week at the City Hall to beat the deadline.
Resolution No. 8, series of 2018, has extended until Feb. 9 the filing of application for the renewal of business permits and licenses and the payment of business taxes and fees, without surcharge or penalty.
It also entitles taxpayers who pay their business taxes in full to a 10-percent discount for the duration of the extension period.
“We urged our taxpayers to take advantage of the extension and to avoid incurring additional penalties and surcharges,” Estrada said.
In his letter, the mayor cited the failure, as planned, to kick off the processing of the renewal of business permits of around 50,000 commercial establishments operating within the city.
The celebration and observance of the Feast of the Black Nazarene earlier this month was the other reason cited in asking for the extension.
City Council Majority Floor Leader Casimiro C. Sison filed and sponsored the resolution.
“Whereas, considering also the expected increase in the number of applications for business permits this year, we shall be needing extra time beyond the date herein sought to accommodate and provide our investors much needed space to settle their obligations,” the measure reads
“We urge you to avoid having endure inconveniences and paying additional payments, let’s not wait until the deadline ends before you pay,” Estrada said.