Business groups reject proposed amendments in local Tax Code
Four business groups in the city have objected to the proposed amendments on the city's local Tax Code.
The four groups are Iloilo Multi-Sectoral Business Organization headed by Fanny Uy, Iloilo Business Club headed by Antonio Jon, Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Panay Inc. headed by Reynaldo Navarro, and Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Iloilo Inc. headed by Roland Uy.
The new tax rate set to be imposed in the first quarter of 2008 was deemed by the business groups as excessive.
Said groups wrote City Councilor Antonio Pesina, chair of the committee on ways and means of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, to reset the hearing on the matter to December 14. The hearing was supposed to be held on December 10 to 12, 2007.
The resetting of the public hearing will allow the business groups to study and review the proposal and same time gather their members to defend their stand over the proposed amendments on some provisions of Revised Local Revenue Code of the City of Iloilo realized by Ordinance 399, S-1993.
The proposed rates will cover some 20 to 100 percent tax increases on businesses, transfer tax, tax on printers and publishers, sand and gravel, professions and callings, amusement tax on admission, delivery trucks and vans, storage of flammable materials.
The other areas which is covered by the new tax rates are the combustible or explosive substance, lessors tax, rice and corn mills, shares from proceeds of national taxes or receipts, accreditation of tourism related establishments, sanitary inspection fees and garbage service charges.
Licensing and sealing of weights and measures, fishery and rentals, fees and charges, operating fishing vessels, building permit fees, line and grades, plumbing inspection and permit fees, mechanical permit and inspection fees, occupancy fee, excavation permit, quarrying fees, parking fees, real property tax, public markets among others are also covered by the impending tax rates.
The business groups viewed the impending tax rate as excessive. It is even three folds higher compared to the allowable tax rate covered by the Local Government Code. The impending increase will affect their members.
On her part, City Treasurer Katherine Tingson defended the proposed tax increase. She said the law provides amendments on local tax code every five years. Iloilo City has yet to amend its tax code since the passage of the Local Tax Ordinance in 1993.