Team eyed to sell untaxed properties

CEBU – Delinquent taxpayers in Cebu City, beware!

The Cebu City government will intensify its campaign against delinquent taxpayers next year by forming a team tasked to sell the untaxed properties through auction.

The move of Councilors Joey Daluz, III and Hilario Davide, III to create the so-called Auction Sale Tax Operations Management is now being reviewed by the City Council’s committee on laws.

Daluz and Davide explained that the “disposal of and auction sale of real properties of delinquent taxpayers for real property and other local taxes, fees and charges should be strengthened to increase tax collection.”

The members of Astom to be headed by the city treasurer will be tasked to “oversee, facilitate, conduct and fast-track the auction sale of real properties of delinquent taxpayers for real property and business taxes.”

The selling of properties of delinquent taxpayers is provided by law under Section 260 of the Local Government Code.

According to the proposed ordinance, the members of Astom may, from time to time, provide and suggest for additional guidelines that are not otherwise inconsistent with law or existing rules, necessary to expedite the conduct of the auction sale of real properties of delinquent taxpayers.

Records at the city treasurer’s office showed that there are many untaxed real properties and unpaid business permits in the city and these are the subject of future auction by the Astom.

The law provides that properties of delinquent taxpayers being sold through auction can still be redeemed by their owners within a period of one year, with a two-percent interest. — Rene U. Borromeo/MEEV (THE FREEMAN)