Makati opens satellite tax payment centers in barangays

MANILA, Philippines - The Makati City government has made the payment of taxes this year easier for its residents by opening satellite payment centers at 31 barangays of the city.

Makati City Treasurer Nelia Barlis said the centers are electronically linked to the Realty Tax Division at City Hall and will accept payments starting Monday in the barangay halls of Barangays Urdaneta and Bel-Air, followed by other barangays on designated dates until January 16.

“Each satellite payment center will be open from 9am to 4pm to serve real property taxpayers. We urge all concerned citizens to note the date when the service will be available at the nearest barangay hall for their convenience,” Barlis said.

Barlis said the service was initially available to 14 barangays only. Excluded from the scheme are barangays Northside and Southside which are part of a territorial dispute with Taguig City.

“We expect our clients to be pleased with the increased accessibility of RPT payment centers. They can just go to their own barangay hall for the transaction instead of going to the next nearest barangay hall or all the way to City Hall,” Barlis said.

For District 1, the operation of satellite tax payment centers is scheduled as follows: (January 5) Urdaneta and Bel-Air, (January 6) Bel-Air and Dasmariñas, (January 7) Dasmariñas and Magallanes, (January 8) Magallanes and San Lorenzo and (January 9) San Lorenzo and Forbes Park. 

On January 12, payers of real property tax can avail themselves of the services at their respective barangay halls as follows: January 12 (Pio del Pilar, Bangkal, San Isidro, Palanan and San Antonio); January 13 (La Paz, Sta. Cruz, Singkamas, Tejeros, Kasilawan); January 14 (Carmona, Olympia, Valenzuela, Poblacion, Guadalupe Viejo); January 15 (Guadalupe Nuevo, Pinagkaisahan, Pitogo, Cembo, South Cembo); and January 16 (West Rembo, East Rembo, Comembo, Pembo, Rizal).

Taxpayers only need to present their previous receipt when making the payment. Each transaction usually takes a maximum of four minutes, and an electronic receipt is issued immediately upon payment, the Makati City government said.

Makati offers a 10 percent discount on real property tax paid on an annual basis, and five percent for quarterly payments made during the first 20 days of the quarter. However, annual real property tax payments made after March will be charged an eight percent penalty, while late quarterly payments will incur a penalty of two percent per month. 

Real property tax collection starts on the first working day of January until January 20. The succeeding quarterly payments shall be made until April 20 (second quarter), July 20 (third quarter, and October 20 (fourth quarter).