Book II - Title Two - Chapter 2

Approved: 10 October 1991

APPRAISAL AND ASSESSMENT OF REAL PROPERTY

Sec. 201. Appraisal of Real Property. - All real property, whether taxable or exempt, shall be appraised at the current and fair market value prevailing in the locality where the property is situated. The Department of Finance shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the classification, appraisal, and assessment of real property pursuant to the provisions of this Code.

Sec. 202. Declaration of Real Property by the Owner or Administrator. - It shall be the duty of all persons, natural or juridical, owning or administering real property, including the improvements therein, within a city or municipality, or their duly authorized representative, to prepare, or cause to be prepared, and file with the provincial, city or municipal assessor, a sworn statement declaring the true value of their property, whether previously declared or undeclared, taxable or exempt, which shall be the current and fair market value of the property, as determined by the declarant. Such declaration shall contain a description of the property sufficient in detail to enable the assessor or his deputy to identify the same for assessment purposes. The sworn declaration of real property herein referred to shall be filed with the assessor concerned once every three (3) years during the period from January first (1st) to June thirtieth (30th) commencing with the calendar year 1992.

Sec. 203. Duty of Person Acquiring Real Property or Making Improvement Thereon. - It shall also be the duty of any person, or his authorized representative, acquiring at any time real property in any municipality or city or making any improvement on real property, to prepare, or cause to be prepared, and file with the provincial, city or municipal assessor, a sworn statement declaring the true value of subject property, within sixty (60) days after the acquisition of such property or upon completion or occupancy of the improvement, whichever comes earlier.

Sec. 204. Declaration of Real Property by the Assessor. - When any person, natural or juridical, by whom real property is required to be declared under Section 202 hereof, refuses or fails for any reason to make such declaration within the time prescribed, the provincial, city or municipal assessor shall himself declare the property in the name of the defaulting owner, if known, or against an unknown owner, as the case may be, and shall assess the property for taxation in accordance with the provision of this Title. No oath shall be required of a declaration thus made by the provincial, city or municipal assessor.

Sec. 205. Listing of Real Property in the Assessment Rolls. -

  1. In every province and city, including the municipalities within the Metropolitan Manila Area, there shall be prepared and maintained by the provincial, city or municipal assessor an assessment roll wherein shall be listed all real property, whether taxable or exempt, located within the territorial jurisdiction of the local government unit concerned. Real property shall be listed, valued and assessed in the name of the owner or administrator, or anyone having legal interest in the property.

  2. The undivided real property of a deceased person may be listed, valued and assessed in the name of the estate or of the heirs and devisees without designating them individually; and undivided real property other than that owned by a deceased may be listed, valued and assessed in the name of one or more co-owners: Provided, however, That such heir, devisee, or co-owner shall be liable severally and proportionately for all obligations imposed by this Title and the payment of the real property tax with respect to the undivided property.

  3. The real property of a corporation, partnership, or association shall be listed, valued and in the same manner as that of an individual.

  4. Real property owned by the Republic of the Philippines, instrumentalities and political subdivisions, the beneficial use of which has been granted, for consideration or otherwise, to a taxable person, shall be listed, valued and assessed in the name of the possessor, grantee or of the public entity if such property has been acquired or held for resale or lease.

Sec. 206. Proof of Exemption of Real Property from Taxation. - Every person by or for whom real property is declared, who shall claim tax exemption for such property under this Title shall file with the provincial, city or municipal assessor within thirty (30) days from the date of the declaration of real property sufficient documentary evidence in support of such claim including corporate charters, title of ownership, of incorporation, bylaws, contracts, affidavits, certifications and mortgage deeds, and similar documents.

     If the required evidence is not submitted within the period herein prescribed, the property shall be listed as taxable in the assessment roll. However, if the property shall be proven to be tax exempt, the same shall be dropped from the assessment roll.

Sec. 207. Real Property Identification System. - All declarations of real property made under the provisions of this Title shall be kept and filed under a uniform classification system to be established by the provincial, city or municipal assessor.

Sec. 208. Notification of Transfer of Real Property Ownership. - Any person who shall transfer real property ownership to another shall notify the provincial, city or municipal assessor concerned within sixty (60) days from the date of such transfer. The notification shall include the mode of transfer, the description of the property alienated, the name and address of the transferee.

Sec. 209. Duty of Registrar of Deeds to Apprise Assessor of Real Property Listed in Registry. -

  1. To ascertain whether or not any real property entered in the Registry of Property has escaped discovery and listing for the purpose of taxation, the Registrar of Deeds shall prepare and submit to the provincial, city or municipal assessor, within six (6) months from the date of effectivity of this Code and every year thereafter, an abstract of his registry, which shall include brief but sufficient description of the real properties entered therein, present owners, and the dates of their most recent transfer or alienation accompanied by copies of corresponding deeds of sale, donation, or partition or other forms of alienation.

  2. It shall also be the duty of the Registrar of Deeds to require every person who shall present for registration a document of transfer, alienation, or encumbrance of real property to accompany the same with a certificate to the effect that the real property subject of the transfer, alienation, or encumbrance, as the case may be, has been fully paid of all real property taxes due thereon. Failure to provide such certificate shall be a valid cause for the Registrar of Deeds to refuse the registration of the document.

Sec. 210. Duty of Official Issuing Building Permit or Certificate of Registration of Machinery to Transmit Copy to Assessor. - Any public official or employee who may now or hereafter be required by law or regulation to issue to any person a permit for the construction, addition, repair, or renovation of a building, or permanent improvement on land, or a certificate of registration for any machinery, including machines, mechanical contrivances, and apparatus attached or affixed on land or to another real property, shall transmit a copy of such permit or certificate within thirty (30) days of its issuance, to the assessor of the province, city or municipality where the property is situated.

Sec. 211. Duty of Geodetic Engineers to Furnish Copy of Plans to Assessor. - It shall be the duty of all geodetic engineers, public or private, to furnish free of charge to the assessor of the province, city or municipality where the land is located with a white or blue print copy of each of all approved original or subdivision plans or maps of surveys executed by them within thirty (30) days from receipt of such plans from the Lands Management Bureau, the Land Registration Authority, the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board, as the case may be.

Sec. 212. Preparation of Schedule of Fair Market Values. - Before any general revision of property assessment is made pursuant to the provisions of this Title, there shall be prepared a schedule of fair market values by the provincial, city and the municipal assessors of the municipalities within the Metropolitan Manila Area for the different classes of real property situated in their respective local government units for enactment by ordinance of the Sanggunian concerned. The schedule of fair market values shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the province, city or municipality concerned, or in the absence thereof, shall be posted in the provincial capitol, city or municipal hall and in two other conspicuous public places therein.

Sec. 213. Authority of Assessor to Take Evidence. - For the purpose of obtaining information on which to base the market value of any real property, the assessor of the province, city or municipality or his deputy may summon the owners of the properties to be affected or persons having legal interest therein and witnesses, administer oaths, and take deposition concerning the property, its ownership, amount, nature, and value.

Sec. 214. Amendment of Schedule of Fair Market Values. - The provincial, city or municipal assessor may recommend to the Sanggunian concerned amendments to correct errors in valuation in the schedule of fair market values. The Sanggunian concerned shall, by ordinance, act upon the within ninety (90) days from receipt thereof.

Sec. 215. Classes of Real Property for Assessment Purposes. - For purposes of assessment, real property shall be classified as residential, agricultural, commercial, industrial, mineral, or special.

      The city or municipality within the Metropolitan Manila Area, through their respective Sanggunian, have the power to classify lands as residential, agricultural, commercial, industrial, mineral, timberland, or special in accordance with their zoning ordinances.

Sec. 216. Special Classes of Real Property. - All lands, buildings, and other improvements actually, directly and exclusively used for hospitals, cultural, or scientific purposes, and those owned and used by local water districts, and government-owned or -controlled corporations rendering essential public services in the supply and distribution of water and/or generation and transmission of electric power shall be classified as special.

Sec. 217. Actual Use of Real Property as Basis for Assessment. - Real property shall be classified, valued and assessed on the basis of its actual use regardless of where located, whoever owns it, and whoever uses it.

Sec. 218. Assessment Levels. - The assessment levels to be applied to the fair market value of real property to determine its assessed value shall be fixed by ordinances of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, Sangguniang panlungsod or Sangguniang bayan of a municipality within the Metropolitan Manila Area, at the rates not exceeding the following:

  1. On Lands:

    CLASS ASSESSMENT LEVELS
    Residential 20%
    Agricultural 40%
    Commercial 50%
    Industrial 50%
    Mineral 50%
    Timberland 20%
     
  2. On Buildings and Other Structures:
    1. Residential

      Fair Market Value

      Over Not Over Assessment Levels
        P 175,000.00 0%
      P 175,000.00 300,000.00 10%
      300,000.00 500,000.00 20%
      500,000.00 750,000.00 25%
      750,000.00 1,000,000.00 30%
      1,000,000.00 2,000,000.00 35%
      2,000,000.00 5,000,000.00 40%
      5,000,000.00 10,000.000.00 50%
      10,000,000.00   60%

    2. Agricultural

      Fair Market Value

      Over Not Over Assessment Levels
        P 300,000.00 25%
      P 300,000.00 500,000.00 30%
      500,000.00 750,000.00 35%
      750,000.00 1,000,000.00 40%
      1,000,000.00 2,000,000.00 45%
      2,000,000.00   50%

    3. Commercial / Industrial

      Fair Market Value

      Over Not Over Assessment Levels
        P 300,000.00 30%
      P 300,000.00 500,000.00 35%
      500,000.00 750,000.00 40%
      750,000.00 1,000,000.00 50%
      1,000,000.00  2,000,000.00  60%
      2,000,000.00 5,000,000.00 70%
      5,000,000.00 10,000,000.00 75%
      10,000,000   80%

    4. Timber land

      Fair Market Value

      Over Not Over Assessment Levels
        P 300,000.00  45%
      P 300,000.00 500,000.00 50%
      500,000.00 750,000.00 55%
      750,000.00 1,000,000.00 60%
      1,000,000.00 2,000,000.00 65%
      2,000,000.00   70%

  3. On Machineries
    Class Assessment Levels
    Agricultural 40%
    Residential 50%
    Commercial 80%
    Industrial 80%

  4. On Special Classes: The assessment levels for all lands, buildings, machineries and other improvements;

    Actual Use Assessment Levels
    Cultural 15%
    Scientific 15%
    Hospital 15%
    Local water districts 10%
    Government-owned or controlled corporations engaged in the supply and distribution of water and/or generation and transmission of electric power 10%

Sec. 219. General Revision of Assessments and Property Classification. - The provincial, city or municipal assessor shall undertake a general revision of real property assessments within two (2) years after the effectivity of this Code and every three (3) years thereafter.

Sec. 220. Valuation of Real Property. - In cases where (a) real property is declared and listed for taxation purposes for the first time; (b) there is an ongoing general revision of property classification and assessment; or (c) a request is made by the person in whose name the property is declared, the provincial, city or municipal assessor or his duly authorized deputy shall, in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter, make a classification, appraisal and assessment of the real property listed and described in the declaration irrespective of any previous assessment or taxpayer's valuation thereon: Provided, however, That the assessment of real property shall not be increased oftener than once every three (3) years except in case of new improvements substantially increasing the value of said property or of any change in its actual use.

Sec. 221. Date of Effectivity of Assessment or Reassessment. - All assessments or reassessments made after the first (1st) day of January of any year shall take effect on the first (1st) day of January of the succeeding year: Provided, however, That the reassessment of real property due to its partial or total destruction, or to a major change in its actual use, or to any great and sudden inflation or deflation of real property values, or to the gross illegality of the assessment when made or to any other abnormal cause, shall be made within ninety (90) days from the date any such cause or causes occurred, and shall take effect at the beginning of the quarter next following the reassessment.

Sec. 222. Assessment of Property Subject to Back Taxes. - Real property declared for the first time shall be assessed for taxes for the period during which it would have been liable but in no case for more than ten (10) years prior to the date of initial assessment: Provided, however, That such taxes shall be computed on the basis of the applicable schedule of values in force during the corresponding period.

     If such taxes are paid on or before the end of the quarter following the date the notice of assessment was received by the owner or his representative, no interest for delinquency shall be imposed thereon; otherwise, such taxes shall be subject to an interest at the rate of two percent (2%) per month or a fraction thereof from the date of the receipt of the assessment until such taxes are fully paid.

Sec. 223. Notification of New or Revised Assessment. - When real property is assessed for the first time or when an existing assessment is increased or decreased, the provincial, city or municipal assessor shall within thirty (30) days give written notice of such new or revised assessment to the person in whose name the property is declared. The notice may be delivered personally or by registered mail or through the assistance of the punong Barangay to the last known address of the person to be served.

Sec. 224. Appraisal and Assessment of Machinery. -

  1. The fair market value of a brand-new machinery shall be the acquisition cost. In all other cases, the fair market value shall be determined by dividing the remaining economic life of the machinery by its estimated economic life and multiplied by the replacement or reproduction cost.

  2. If the machinery is imported, the acquisition cost includes freight, insurance, bank and other charges, brokerage, arrastre and handling, duties and taxes, plus cost of inland transportation, handling, and installation charges at the present site. The cost in foreign currency of imported machinery shall be converted to peso cost on the basis of foreign currency exchange rates as fixed by the Central Bank.

Sec. 225. Depreciation Allowance for Machinery. - For purposes of assessment, a allowance shall be made for machinery at a rate not exceeding five percent (5%) of its original cost or its replacement or reproduction cost, as the case may be, for each year of use: Provided, however, That the remaining value for all kinds of machinery shall be fixed at not less than twenty percent (20%) of such original, replacement, or reproduction cost for so long as the machinery is useful and in operation.