Delinquent property owners in the city can avail of the tax relief or amnesty pursuant to Ordinance 484 otherwise known as the ‘Real Property Tax Relief and/ or Amnesty Ordinance of 2018.’

The tax amnesty waives payments of penalties, surcharges and interests on unpaid real property taxes covering all years prior to December 31, 2018 accounts.

City Treasurer Romelita Candido said payment of delinquencies made not later than December 15, 2018 will have a 100% tax relief on penalties, surcharges and interests while payment of delinquencies made from Dec. 16, 2018 to June 30, 2019 will have 50% tax relief.

Under the ordinance, the tax relief shall not apply to real properties levied pursuant to section 20 of Ordinance 92-014 otherwise known as the ‘Real Property Tax Code of the city’, real properties subject of auction sale pursuant to section 22 of ordinance 92-014, real property taxes that is subject of a compromise agreement and real properties subject to litigation or civil action for collection of delinquent tax.

The ordinance, approved on July 31, 2018 emphasizes that ‘there shall be no grant of tax relief and or amnesty to delinquent real property owners within a period of 5 years from January 1, 2019.

The Council ordinance was authored by Councilors Josephine Pareja, Cesar Jimenez and Elbert Atilano Sr. and was approved by Mayor Beng Climaco on August 13, 2018. (Sheila Covarrubias)