Discount awaits early real taxpayers

A 20 percent discount is automatically accorded to early taxpayers for their real property dues as mandated under Chapter 13 of the City Tax Ordinance No. 2000-001.

City Treasurer Alex B. Cabarrubias recently issued an advisory reminding real property owners in Baguio to pay their 2 percent basic real property tax (RPT) and additional 1 percent Special Education Fund (SEF) in the city for the year 2022.

Both the basic RPT and the additional SEF tax must be paid simultaneously, Cabarrubias said.

He explained that when the current real property tax and additional levy for the SEF are paid in full for the whole year before January 2022, the taxpayer shall be entitled to an advanced payment discount of 20 percent. When paid in full between January and the end of March, a ten percent discount shall be granted based on the ordinance.

Meanwhile, real property tax paid on a quarterly scheme will be granted a ten percent discount on the amount of tax due if paid in full within the quarter.

Schedule of quarterly payments without interest or penalty, at the option of the taxpayer, as follows:

1st Installment        –    on or before March 31, 2022

2nd Installment      –   on or before June 30, 2022

3rd Installment       –    on or before September 30, 2022; and

4th Installment       –   on or before December 31, 2022

Cabarubbias reminded that failure to pay the basic real property tax and additional SEF tax on or before the dates indicated above shall subject the taxpayer to the payment of interest at the rate of two percent per month or fraction thereof on the unpaid amount, until the delinquent tax shall have been fully paid, provided however, that in no case shall the total interest on the unpaid tax or portion thereof exceed 36 months or 72 percent.

Real Property owners are requested to pay their taxes at the Office of the City Treasurer, Baguio City. It may also be paid by depositing the exact amount and sending the deposit slip thru email at this address: cto.baguio@gmail.com, to: Land Bank of the Philippines with Account Name: City Treasurer, Baguio or City Government of Baguio using Account Number: 0222-0015-95. For inquiries, call: (074) 442-8900. — JMS