Benguet rethinking tax amnesty

DESPITE the round of tax amnesty last year, Benguet is mulling of implementing the scheme anew.

The provincial board over the week is studying to grant another tax amnesty in the province following the request of some residents.

A tax amnesty ordinance was approved last year in order to boost the province's collection effort and to meet the demand of delinquent real property taxpayers

But Board Member Jim Botiwey expressed opposition against the studied tax amnesty and called on his colleagues to carefully re-

think of the plan as it would send wrong signal to responsible tax payers.

Provincial Treasurer Imelda Macanes reported the implementation of the Provincial Ordinance 209-n granting "Granting Tax Amnesty or relied on penalities, fines, subcharges, and interests to delinquent real property tax payers in the province" have collected a total of P30,892,620 from July to December 2017.

Some 8,800 delinquent tax payers on the province availed of the amnesty by the province.

However, Board Member Florencio Bentrez said there is still no clear manifestation as to the effect of the substantial total delinquent of assessment of real property taxes.

"We don't know the substantial effect of the delinquent assessment of real property taxes against those non – delinquent," said Bentrez.

Macanes said they have incomplete data and have to require the municipal treasurer's to submit the number of assessed real property taxes and the number of delinquent tax payers adding they can impose administrative remedies to those non tax payers.

"We can do administrative remedies with the support of the august body. Every year, we sent out demand letters to the delinquent properties," Macanes said. "Payment of real properties is an obligation, they should know because they have properties located in Benguet and should settle their taxes," she added.