THE Cebu City Council has approved the amendatory ordinance which further extends the deadline of the payment of business and real property taxes (RPT) until Dec. 21, 2020.

The Council approved the ordinance authored by Councilor Raymond Alvin Garcia during the regular session on Oct. 28.

This is the fourth time the City Government extended the deadline of the tax payment amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

This means that Dec. 21 is the final deadline for the second, third and fourth quarter payments of business tax and for the first, second, third and fourth quarter payments of RPT.

No penalties shall be imposed on the taxpayers who will pay until Dec. 21, emphasized Garcia.

Garcia said for those who were penalized as the deadline extension was not made immediately, it will be converted into tax credits or the penalty paid by the taxpayer will be deducted from the following quarter’s tax dues.

The extension was made upon the appeal of some businessmen who have just reopened their businesses or are still trying to recover from their losses after months of closure.

The restrictions implemented by the local government unit forced some businesses to temporarily close their stores, especially when the city was placed under enhanced community quarantine.

Now that Cebu City is under modified general community quarantine, more businesses are allowed to operate. (JJL)