Navotas grants amnesty for delinquent taxpayers

Navotas Mayor Toby Tiangco announced yesterday a tax amnesty for delinquent real property owners in his city.

He said the tax amnesty took effect on Sept. 12 and ends on March 12, 2009. Those availing of the amnesty within that period will enjoy a 100-percent condonation of interests, surcharges and penalties, he added.

Tiangco said the tax amnesty, the first in the history of Navotas, will encourage delinquent real property tax payers to settle their tax obligations to promote regular and prompt updating and settlement of realty tax payments.

Properties of delinquent taxpayers who will not avail of the amnesty will be auctioned off by the city government, he added.

Tiangco said the tax amnesty does not apply to real properties that have been forfeited and sold at public auction; those that are subjects of pending court cases; those whose real property tax assessment have been sustained or allowed by the courts; and those on which a variance assessment has been made.

The Local Government Code allows a city council to grant amnesty to delinquent real property taxpayers.   – Jerry Botial