TOWN HALL EXTENDS VOLUNTARY PAYMENT OF PROPERTY TAX (IBI)
Wednesday 24th August 2011

Óscar Antón, councillor responsible for Finance, has announced measures to be implemented by his department to help householders in Jávea with their obligation to pay the Impuesto de Bienes Inmuebles (IBI), the property tax. The period of voluntary payment of this charge begins tomorrow (25th August) and would have lasted until November 7th. However, the town hall’s executive board, appreciating the difficult economic situation of many families in the municipality, has decided to extend this period for another month to December 7th. Antón also announced that from immediate effect there is an option to make the payment by instalments over a period of five months. However, those householders who pay the full amount when it is due will benefit from a discount of 2.5% on their account.

Antón also announced that, from next year, it is expected to have a system in place to allow the “personalisation” of municipal taxes in which the taxpayer can centralise all charges due and decide whether to pay in full or by monthly instalments, with prompt payers benefiting from discounts.

In addition to the announcement, the head of the municipal treasury detailed other actions to be taken by the government team in relation to the “catastral” (land registry) aimed at lowering rates for the next year. In this sense, the town hall has hired a company that is to be entrusted to register all properties that have not been declared by their owners. After making an aerial reconnaissance of the municipality, this company will start to conduct inspections to update the land registry to include barbecues, swimming pools and building extensions that have not been declared. Thus, from next year, everyone will be obliged to pay the appropriate taxes due, both for the current year but also for the four previous years, as required by law. “With this update, we estimate that we will raise an additional 1.8 million euros,” said Antón, who has pledged to consider this extra income to lower the property tax rates at the end of the next year and help cushion the continuous rise of such bills since 2005.

One consequence of the phased implementation of the last revision to the land registry is that it remains under appeal at court. Antón has advised that, given that the process remains stalled and with the intention of ending court costs and uncertainties, the town hall’s executive board is considering asking for the new presentation. It has been five years since the last review and there now exists an opportunity for the town hall to carry out an assessment of all the zones of the municipality. “We know which ones are overrated,” said the councillor, who has also stressed the need to accommodate the actual market value of properties in Jávea.

Source: Press Release - Xàbia Ajuntament