Law Summary
Duty of Property Owners to Declare Improvements
- Owners or their authorized representatives must file a sworn statement declaring the true value of the property within 60 days of acquisition or upon completion/occupancy of improvements (Section 203, RA 7160).
Definition and Scope of Real Property
- Real property tax applies to immovable properties recognized under the New Civil Code including:
- Land, buildings, roads, and constructions adhered to the soil.
- Everything attached in a fixed manner that cannot be separated without damage.
- Machinery and implements intended for industry or works carried out on the land/building.
Problem Addressed by the Ordinance
- There exists a prevalent practice of paying tax only on land but not on improvements, leading to deficient tax collection.
- The ordinance seeks to remedy this by prescribing comprehensive collection methods to cover both land and improvements effectively and efficiently.
Method of Collecting Real Property Tax (Section 1)
- Basic real property tax payments on buildings, improvements, and machineries must include the tax on land and improvements.
- Payment is only accepted if it covers both land and improvements taxes.
- Partial payments are proportionately divided between land and improvements by the City Treasurer.
Implementing Rules and Regulations (Section 2)
- The City Government of Valenzuela is mandated to formulate necessary rules and regulations to implement the ordinance effectively.
Separability Clause (Section 3)
- Should any part of the ordinance be declared illegal or invalid, the remaining provisions not affected shall continue to be in full force and effect.
Repealing Clause (Section 4)
- Any prior ordinance or parts thereof inconsistent with this ordinance are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
Effectivity (Section 5)
- The ordinance takes effect upon approval by the city council and signing by the city mayor.