No Real Estate Taxes increase in Paranaque – Bernabe

Parañaque City Mayor Florencio Bernabe, Jr. on Tuesday urged citizens to pay their real estate taxes (RPT) early in order to avail of big discounts.
 
     The local chief executive said that for early payments of 2011 real property taxes (land and improvements), the following Advance Payment Discounts will be given: Twenty percent (20%) for RPT payments made on or before December 15, 2010, on condition that the accounts are up-to-date and have no arrears; and sixteen percent (16%) if they are paid from December 16 to 31, 2010. 
 
     Meanwhile, taxpayers will still be given a ten percent (10%) Prompt Payment Discount if they pay their 2011 RPT in full from January 1 up to January 20, 2011.  The same discounts will also be applied to quarterly RPT installments that are made on or before the 20th day of the starting month of each calendar quarter (January 20 for 1st Quarter; April 20 for 2nd Quarter; July 20 for 3rd Quarter; and October 20 for 4th Quarter).
 
     “My administration continues to adopt taxpayer-friendly measures in aid of citizens and business establishments: We have computerized our RPT assessment and payment system thereby eliminating long queue and long wait; we have a modern Taxpayers’ and Assessment Lounges where taxpayers are offered free snacks and can view their favorite TV program while waiting for their numbers to flash on screen; we offered tax amnesty in 2004 and 2010.” Mayor Jun Bernabe said.
 
      The mayor also emphasized that the city government has NOT raised real property taxes. The schedule of fair market values of land, he stressed remains at 1997 levels while the valuation schedule of improvements stays at the 1992 level.
 
      “As an added taxpayer-friendly measure, the Parañaque City Government will soon be implementing its Real Property Tax (RPT) Online Payment System that will allow payment of land tax via internet or e-banking facility.”, Bernabe added.