STARTING Friday, Jan. 4, the Cebu City Government will start the operation of its one-stop-shop for the renewal of business permits in Robinsons Galleria Cebu.

The City Treasurer’s Office (CTO) estimates that there are around 39,000 business establishments in the city at present.

“Although the operation of one-stop-shop will start on Jan. 4, we will be open tomorrow (Jan. 3), and those taxpayers who will come to Robinsons will be entertained,” City Treasurer Arlene Rentuza said.

The City will use local taxes and the share from the internal revenue allotment to fund the annual budget this year.

It include P2.5 billion from local taxes, which comprises income from business taxes, P1.9 billion from internal revenue allotment, P1.3 billion for non-tax revenue, P1 billion from real property taxes, P1 billion share from the joint venture with Filinvest Land Inc. and P250 million share from economic zones.

Rentuza said that all transactions related to business permits will only be entertained in Robinsons Galleria since they transferred all their computers there for the one-stop-shop.

“While the one-stop-shop is still there, there will be no transactions of the renewal of business permits in our office in City Hall,” she said.

Rentuza urged tax payers to pay their dues to the City while one-stop-shop is open to avoid penalties.

It will operate starting 9 a.m., an hour before the mall opens.

The one-stop-shop will be open in Robinsons Galleria until Jan. 25.

Taxpayers will have to bring several requirements in processing their business permits which include the filled-up application forms, the preceding year’s income tax return with financial statements received by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), the preceding year’s sales journal or percentage tax returns of the first, second and third quarters, and for the months of October and November.

After submission of all the requirements, taxpayers will have to wait for the evaluation and assessment of their tax due before they proceed to payments and printing of Temporary Mayor’s Business Permit and verification of requirements, and printing of final permit.

All these procedures will be available at the one-stop-shop. (RVC)