PIA Press Release
Monday, January 16, 2012 QC suspends issuance of letters of authority/confirmation QUEZON CITY, Jan 16 (PIA) -- Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista has ordered the suspension of the issuance of letters of authority and letters of confirmation especially during heavy payment period so as to give the city treasurer’s office ample time to concentrate on its tax collection efforts. Letters of authority or confirmation are usually issued by the office of the city treasurer when there is an examination of the book of accounts and pertinent records of any person, partnership, corporation, or association which are subject to city taxes, fees, and charges. “We have to be mindful of the convenience and comfort of all legitimate taxpayers in Quezon City,” said Mayor Bautista, during the signing of the prescribed guidelines implementing memorandum circulars 16 and 17 in relation to the collection of business and real property taxes in the city. To ascertain the veracity of the gross sales and receipts being declared by a taxpayer, the city treasurer’s office may issue new letters of authority and confirmation only upon written authorization from the Mayor. Aside from the mayor’s authorization, new letters of authority and confirmation that will be issued must bear the joint signatures of the business permits and licensing officer and the local treasurer. “Any letter that does not bear the joint signatures of the BPLO chief and city treasurer shall be considered invalid and unofficial,” said Mayor Bautista. Mayor Bautista also ordered the cancellation of all unfinished letters of authority and confirmation for fiscal year 2011. Continuation of follow up on prior issued LAs shall also commence only upon written authorization from the Mayor. As provided under the implementing guidelines, receiving and collection of payments of LAs properly covered by a notice of assessment issued prior to the effective of the memorandum circular shall be authorized by the city government. The Mayor also called for the formation of a special assessment task force whose mandate is to ensure that the revenue and tax collected by the city has factual and legal bases. The task force, which will be chaired by city administrator Victor Endriga, is also tasked to ensure taxpayer’s adherence to and strict compliance with the approved procedures contained in the “2012 Business Tax Renewal Flow Chart.” Other members of the task force include the city assessor, who will sit as co-chairperson for land and improvements; business permits and licensing officer, who will be designated as co-chair for businesses; the city treasurer, city building official, city health officer, environmental protection and waste management officer and the city fire marshal. The task force will also be mandated to constitute a composite team of inspectors that shall conduct a ground or actual inspection of all the taxpaying units in the city to determine and verify the factual bases of the taxes, fees and charges paid or collected by the city government. According to Endriga, the formation of the task force highlights the city government’s continuing effort to sustain its status as a truly business-friendly city. The function and mandate of the special task force shall commence in April. (RJB/AKG-PIA-NCR/QC-PIO) | 
