Cebu tax amnesty hailed

CEBU CITY – The Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) has urged its members to take advantage of the tax amnesty program being offered by the local government. 

“The CCCI strongly urges its members and non-members alike to grab this rarely given opportunity before its deadline,” CCCI president Felix Taguiam said. 

Taguiam said amid the economic struggles faced by businesses, this is an important piece of legislation that will bring relief to business owners facing tax challenges. 

CCCI’s call came after Mayor Edgardo Labella called on companies here to take advantage of the tax concessions offered by the city government.  

Special Officer of the Mayor for Finance and Treasury Jerone Castillo said the CCCI was instrumental in the creation of the tax amnesty ordinance and crossing parties to push for its passage. “This is not a proposal of the city. This is an initiative of the CCCI in relation to the ease of doing business,” Castillo said. 

The tax amnesty ordinance of 2019 was approved in late 2019, and took effect in September. It

measures grants reprieve and foregoes or waives the collection of unpaid interest, penalties, and surcharges of all outstanding or unpaid local taxes including real property, business and community taxes in 2019 and previous years without penalty by December 15.  

It also imposes a fixed rate of 10 percent on all unpaid due and demandable real property, business, and community taxes, as well as other fees and charges after this date but within one year from the effectivity of the ordinance. 

The city government has moved the deadline for payment of real property taxes and business taxes for fiscal year 2020 to December 21. 

Castillo also urged that the CCCI, which is the largest business group in Cebu, may lobby for further extension of the deadline to provide relief for taxpayers. He said taxpayers may visit the city hall for accurate assessment and computation of their tax obligations. (Carlo Lorenciana)

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