Quezon City council mulls bill condoning real estate tax arrears

MANILA, Philippines—Delinquent real property taxpayers in Quezon City will get an opportunity to have some of their arrears condoned if they settle at least five years of their delinquencies under a proposed ordinance that would write off about 80 percent of the P2.9 billion in taxes due the city.

“Real property owners who have accumulated obligations may find it financially burdensome so we are trying to find ways to give them options,” Councilor Victor “Jun” Ferrer said in a telephone interview on Tuesday.

Ferrer, author of the measure, said no tax relief has been granted by the city government since 2001.

The proposal was passed on first reading at a hearing Tuesday conducted by the council’s committee on ways and means, chaired by Ferrer.

If the measure hurdles the third reading and obtains the mayor’s approval, the tax relief will be granted from January 1 to June 30 next year. It will benefit some 45,000 real property units with more than five years of delinquencies, some even up to 20 years, Ferrer.

“During the six-month period, taxpayers may pay the total delinquencies for 2010 to 2014 and they will be relieved of obligations prior to 2010,” Ferrer said.

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