An overhead shot of a City Treasurer's Office waiting area. The image shows a light beige reception desk, four black office chairs, a lit sign reading "CITY TREASURER'S OFFICE," and a circular illuminated emblem on the wall. A potted plant is also visible. The overall setting is clean and orderly.

Paying Real Property Tax in Cebu City: My Personal Experience at the Treasurer’s Office

by

Why I’m Dealing with Property Taxes

An overhead shot of a City Treasurer's Office waiting area. The image shows a light beige reception desk, four black office chairs, a lit sign reading "CITY TREASURER'S OFFICE," and a circular illuminated emblem on the wall. A potted plant is also visible. The overall setting is clean and orderly.
Ugh, I always dread going here as I’m always thinking how much will the government take away from my hard earned money.

I’m back at the Cebu City Treasurer’s Office again, sorting out real property taxes for a house that’s been in my family for years. It’s valuable to me, but it comes with some headaches. The main reason I’m here is the tax debt my mother left behind when she passed away. If I don’t settle it, the city could auction off the property. I can’t let that happen, so I’m dealing with it step by step, even though it’s not easy.

Grinding Through the Payments

A close-up photo of three Real Estate Tax Receipts. Sensitive information, such as names and addresses, has been redacted. The receipts show details like bill numbers, tax amounts, and due dates. The receipts appear to be official government documents.
My income gets spent on this problem. How I wish money would just rain in front of me to pay all the debt and just enjoy a whole year of vacation.

The total amount still isn’t fully paid, but I’m making progress. It’s a big sum, and my income isn’t huge, so it’s taking a while. I’ve been paying it off monthly to keep things manageable. Every payment gets me closer, and that’s what keeps me going, even if it’s slow.

The Toll It Takes and the Office Scene

A selfie of a person with shoulder-length light brown hair, wearing a navy blue and white striped polo shirt. The person is standing outdoors in front of a building with the letters "ABC" visible. The building has a mural on its side and is surrounded by greenery and a few people are visible sitting on a bench in the background. The overall setting appears to be a park or public area.
I look so tired in this photo because I am. I never wanted to be there but I have to. I was so tired from working that sleeping the entire day was the only thing in my mind.

When I get a day off or some leave from work, all I want is to kick back and rest. Instead, I’m here handling taxes. That’s why I look tired lately. It’s just from not getting enough sleep, nothing more complicated than that. I’d rather be chilling at home, but this has to get done. Walking into the City Treasurer’s Office is always a busy scene. It reminds me of a packed market with people everywhere. But when you head up to the second floor for payment processing, it’s a different story. Things move smoothly there. Maybe they save the calm atmosphere for those ready to pay. I don’t care why as long as I can finish up fast and get out.

A photograph of a Real Property Tax Amnesty Availment Request form. The form is filled out partially, with some information redacted. The form includes sections for applicant information, property details, payment terms, exemptions, and verification signatures. The City Treasurer's office letterhead is visible at the top.
Good thing they have this Tax Amnesty when I got there. When I availed for this, all the tax penalties were gone! I’ve got a discount of around 1,000 pesos.

How It Works and the Ownership Battle

A photo of the interior of a Real Property Tax Payment office. A woman with long dark hair, wearing an orange shirt and light-colored pants, stands at a counter. The counter is divided into sections by cubicle-like partitions. A small desk fan sits on the counter. Another person's legs and hand holding paperwork are visible in the bottom left corner. The overall setting is clean and brightly lit.

The process itself is pretty simple. You grab a queue number, fill out the payment slip, and they help if you’re unsure about anything. Then you go to the cashier, pay, and you’re done. It’s quick and straightforward, which I like. I’m not an expert at this government stuff, so the clear steps make it easier. Here’s the tough part, though. The property is still under my mother’s name, and I’m working to get it transferred to me. There are others who think they have a claim, like some relatives or maybe outside people. I’m not backing down because this house matters. It’s where I grew up, and it’s tied to my past. I’m set on keeping it, so I’ll keep paying these taxes month by month until it’s officially cleared. I’m staying hopeful that it’ll all work out, even if it takes time.

Wrapping It Up

Man, that’s where I’m at. Just a guy in Cebu, wrestling with taxes and trying to keep what’s mine. Hopefully, next time I post, it’ll all be paid up. After all that, I’m looking forward to a good meal at a decent restaurant and chilling in some random park. Life’s too short to stress over everything, you know? Need to unwind and clear my head. A cold drink would hit the spot as I start to feel the summer heat in Philippines. Then maybe just zone out and watch the sunset.

Leave a Comment