Valenzuela extends tax deadlines

VALENZUELA Mayor Rex Gatchalian on Friday announced the extension of the dealine of real property tax payments, among others, because of the ongoing Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).

He said the city council had passed three measures that effectively extended the payment deadlines and forgoing penalties for the taxes due by the end of March.

Vice Mayor Lorie Natividad Borja said Ordinance 677, also known as “An Ordinance Extending the Deadline for the Payment of Real Property Tax for the First Quarter of 2020,” was enacted during the council’s 32nd regular session.

Under the measure, the payment deadline of real property tax for the first quarter of 2020 has been extended until April 30, 2020. Originally, the first quarter installment was supposed to be payable on or before March 31.

But the deadline for the first quarter payment fell within the period of mandatory ECQ until the second week of April, making it necessary to adjust the deadline.

The local legislators have also passed Ordinance 679 or “An Ordinance Providing Amnesty in Penalty for Late Declaration of Real Property during the Period of Enhanced Community Quarantine.

The measure waived any penalty arising from the late declaration of real property.

The same ordinance gave the owner or administrator of the real property an extension of 30 days from the lifting of the ECQ to process the proper declaration with the Office of the City Assessor.

Ordinance 678, or “An Ordinance Extending the Deadline of Payment until 30 April 2020 for the Payment of Transfer Tax,” moves the deadline for payment of taxes on transfer of ownership that fall due during the ECQ.

The sellers, donors, transferors, executors or administrators of the real estate are given until April 30 to pay the transfer tax until April 30 without incurring any interest, surcharge or penalty.