Davao City RPT amnesty, special levies approved

DAVAO CITY —-The 20th Davao City Council approved on Tuesday, during its third and final reading, an ordinance granting tax amnesty on real property taxes and special levies on real properties, in light of the enactment of Republic Act No. 12001.

The ordinance applies to all unpaid penalties, surcharges, and interest on real property taxes, including the Special Education Fund, idle land tax, and other special levies on properties within Davao City. These amounts are for taxes incurred before July 5, 2024, the effective date of Republic Act No. 12001, also known as the “Real Property Valuation and Assessment Reform Act.”

Section 4 of the ordinance states that the financial relief or amnesty will condone penalties, surcharges, and interest on unpaid real property taxes incurred before July 5, 2024, subject to the guidelines outlined in Section 6 of the ordinance.

However, Section 5 of the ordinance excludes delinquent real properties from the amnesty if they have been disposed of in public auctions to satisfy real property tax delinquencies, if they are subject to a compromise agreement for payment, or if they are involved in pending court cases related to real property tax delinquencies.

Section 6 of the ordinance sets the guidelines and the payment period to avail of the financial relief or amnesty. According to this section, all accrued penalties, surcharges, and interest will be condoned only upon settlement of the basic real property tax, the additional levy for the Special Education Fund, idle land tax, and other special levy taxes, within two years—starting from July 5, 2024, to July 5, 2026.

Payments for real property tax, additional levies for the Special Education Fund, idle land tax, and other special levies can be made in full, either by cash or manager’s check, or through installments. The installment option is available provided the payments are made within the two-year period and comply with the conditions set out in Section 6, paragraph (c).

The ordinance further stipulates that all applications to avail of the real property tax amnesty must be submitted to the City Treasurer’s Office, along with the prescribed application form and payment of the applicable taxes.