Suan bats for tax amnesty, penalty condonation scheme to help businessmen, public

Delinquent taxpayers should be incentivized to pay their taxes through the removal of obstacles and difficulties such as penalties and surcharges.

This was the proposal of Councilor Lordan G. Suan during last Monday’s regular session presided over by Vice Mayor Raineir Joaquin V. Uy. He proposed the enactment of an ordinance or a resolution requesting the city mayor to grant tax amnesty to some business owners and establishments for their delinquencies in the payment of business and real property taxes.

“If the reason why my suggestion to give ayuda was not acted upon is because of the lack of public funds, then naa pud koy suggestion ug naa pud koy i-propose nga solution aron naay mosulod nga kwarta sa atong panudlanan aron makahatag ta’g ayuda sa atong mga kaigsoonan,” the councilor pointed out.

According to Suan, delinquent business taxpayers may be enticed to pay by reducing the amount through the removal of surcharges and penalties. As for the real property taxpayers, a condonation of all delinquencies which are older than five years may also be imposed, he added.

“This will give business owners and establishments some much-needed economic reprieve considering it is undeniable that the pandemic has affected all of us especially businesses and establishments. It would be nice if our city could show our business owners some compassion kay siguro daghan na gyud nanirado ug naalkanse,” Suan further explained.

The matter was referred to the committees on ways and means and on finance, budget and appropriations chaired respectively by Councilors George S. Goking and Edna M. Dahino for appropriate action.