Yesterday at her inauguration Belize City Mayor Zenaida Moya announced that her council will be offering incentives for property owners to pay their taxes and help city hall bridge a 9 million dollar deficit. Tonight we have the details of that plan.
If you pay your property tax in full before April 30th, you receive a ten percent rebate. That is only if you do so at City Hall. If you pay at an agent you get no rebate, the agent does.
There is a second option to pay half the arrears up-front and stagger the remaining payments in July, October, and January. A 2.5% late fee will be charged on any balance after January 30th, and after March 31st you'll be taken to court. If you choose to use this option at an agent, there is an extra $125 service fee tacked on to your first payment.
You can also choose to pay your property tax in four equal installments every three months beginning in April and ending on January 30th. That however is only if you pay it directly at the City Council's office. If you do so at an agent, $125 will be added.
Senior citizens on pensions can get as much as 25%. If you are living in your own house, you can get 10% off. You have until April 30th to decide which payment plan you want. After that you will be in default, the value will be assessed, the entire amount will be payable, and you will be taken to court. Yesterday Mayor Moya announced that last year the City Council only collected about 50% of its projected revenue.
