To offer convenience and a faster payment process, the City Treasurer’s Office (CTO) is developing a system for real property tax payments online.

“The system is eyed for completion between October and November 2022. We have to serve the rising demand of real property taxpayers to have an online payment option,” CTO chief Lawrence Bantiding said on Friday.

Bantiding said the CTO has also partnered with electronic wallets Paymaya for even wider payment options that could be accessed through the city government’s online payment services portal.

Online tax payments were launched in 2020 through the Land Bank of the Philippines Link.Biz Portal and the Development Bank of the Philippines, which included its affiliates.

Bantiding said the online payment system has been expanded to include miscellaneous fees, aside from business tax.

Among the miscellaneous fees are payments for transfer tax, fees on weight and measure, special mayor’s permit, professional tax receipt, slaughterhouse fees, and regulatory fees for different city offices.

On the other hand, Bantiding said they are strengthening their online payment options and physical payment at the main office. The 11 district offices will still accept payments.

He noted that despite the pandemic, an increase in tax collection was recorded from January to August this year.

As of last month, the CTO has managed to collect PHP9.8 billion worth of local taxes. The figure is 77.6 percent of the office’s PHP12.6 billion target for 2022, Bantiding said.

He said the amount is also 26.7 percent higher compared to their 2021 collection for the same period, which was only at PHP7.7 billion. (PNA)