Makati City opens satellite payment centers for realty taxes in 31 barangays

Payment of realty taxes has been made easier for property owners in Makati starting this January because the city government will open satellite tax payment centers on scheduled dates in 31 barangays of the city, excluding two disputed barangays.

City treasurer Nelia Barlis said the centers, electronically linked to the Realty Tax Division at City Hall, will accept payments starting yesterday, Jan. 5, in the barangay halls of Urdaneta and Bel-Air, followed by other barangays on designated dates until Jan. 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.

The city official said previously, the service was available in 14 barangays only. “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,” she said.

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

The following Monday, Jan. 12, realty taxpayers can avail themselves of the service at their respective barangay halls as follows: Jan. 12 (Pio del Pilar, Bangkal, San Isidro, Palanan and San Antonio); Jan. 13 (La Paz, Sta. Cruz, Singkamas, Tejeros, Kasilawan); Jan. 14 (Carmona, Olympia, Valenzuela, Poblacion, Guadalupe Viejo); Jan. 15 (Guadalupe Nuevo, Pinagkaisahan, Pitogo, Cembo, South Cembo); and Jan. 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.

Makati offers a 10 percent discount on realty taxes paid on an annual basis, and five percent for quarterly payments made during the first 20 days of the quarter. However, annual realty 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. 

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

source:  The Daily Tribune