TACLOBAN CITY – The provincial government of Leyte launched the digital-based real property tax payment system last week, dubbed iTax.
The initiative is set to be rolled out to local government units across the province, board member Carlo Loreto said.
The launching took place at the mini-theater of the provincial capitol building in Palo town, presided over by Governor Carlo Jericho Petilla and attended by members of the provincial board along with several municipal chief executives from the province.
The iTax system represents a significant shift in real property tax payment procedures, offering taxpayers the convenience of paying anytime, anywhere.
This marks a noteworthy milestone as it simplifies procedures and addresses challenges associated with traditional tax payment methods.
Utilizing technology in tax payment alleviates issues such as long queues and the potential misuse of funds, Loreto said.
Taxpayers can now fulfill their obligations using their computers or mobile phones, bypassing the need for physical visits to assessors’ and treasurers’ offices.
“With the implementation of the new Web-based version of iTax, Leyte province aims to alleviate the burden placed on taxpayers, eliminating the need to physically visit the assessors’ office and endure long queues at the treasurers’ office,” Loreto said.
He further emphasized, “The ability to pay taxes online empowers individuals, including those residing abroad, to fulfill their tax obligations conveniently through computers or smartphones. This seamless accessibility enables taxpayers to manage their tax affairs at any time, from anywhere in the world, resulting in substantial time and cost savings.”
The adoption of technology to streamline tax payments benefits local governments by significantly increasing revenue collection, thereby generating more income to fund various infrastructure projects, healthcare programs and facilities, educational initiatives, and other projects aimed at improving the lives of the community.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
