KALIBO, Aklan – An ordinance extending the payment of 2020 real property taxes to June 30, 2021 was approved by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) of Aklan.
The six-month tax relief covering the first, second, third, and fourth quarter payments aims to ease the burden of property owners struggling due to disruptions in local economy brought about by the coronavirus pandemic.
Tax Ordinance No. 2021-02 series of 2021 condones penalties and interests of unpaid 2020 real property taxes provided that basic tax dues inclusive of the Special Education Fund (SEF) are paid not later than June 30, 2021.
A real property tax is a tax levied by the local government on properties including land, building, improvements on the land, and machinery.
The Aklan SP approved the tax ordinance on Jan. 11. It took effect on Jan. 15.
Owners of residential, industrial, commercial or agricultural properties may pay taxes at the Land Tax Division of their local government unit or via online modes of payment.
“The restrictions on the movement of people due to the community quarantine are still strictly being imposed, and the pandemic has negative impacts on the local economy and income of all sectors in the province of Aklan,” the tax ordinance stressed.
Last April 2020, the Aklan SP passed a similar ordinance deferring the payment deadline of the first quarter installment of the 2020 real property taxes which fell on March 31, 2020 until June 30, 2020, without any penalty or interest.
The Provincial Treasurer’s Office also urged non-delinquent taxpayers to avail themselves of the 15 percent discount by paying the 2021 real property dues in full or on before the Jan. 29, 2021 deadline./PN
