FOR only 18 days, the Cebu City Treasurer’s Office (CTO) was able to collect around P1.2 billion in business tax during the one-stop shop for the renewal of business permits last January.
Acting City Treasurer Arlene Rentuza said the amount is 20.82 percent higher than the around P1 billion they collected last year.
For this year, a total of 32,869 business owners had their business assessed but only 32,262 actually paid their tax due.
“There are 600 business establishments that were assessed but have yet to pay their tax dues. But we have an increase with our taxpayers. Right now, we are still continuing to serve those who were not served at the one-stop shop in City Hall,” she said.
Last year, CTO recorded only a total of 32,828 business establishments in the city.
Rentuza attributed the increase in collection to the efforts of Mayor Tomas Osmeña in urging the business owners to pay their tax due and their campaign against tax evaders.
“Also last year, we did some examination on the businesses in the city. Taxpayers are already conscious that the government is really serious in collecting business taxes,” she said.
Rentuza said they will give the taxpayers until March to process the renewal of their business permits since the Business Permit Licensing Office has sought additional requirements from business owners, which might have caused the delay in their processing.
The CTO will impose two percent interest per month and a 25 percent surcharge and penalties on those who failed to pay their business tax after Jan. 25, the last day of renewal.
“By March, we will continue our tax mapping by inspecting the business permits of the establishments because they need to post a copy of their permit,” Rentuza said. (RVC)