DESPITE extensive outreach efforts, digital payment for assessment tax has been lower than expected, says Penang Island City Council (MBPP) mayor Datuk A. Rajendran.
He said the city council collected about RM71.9mil as of Feb 22, representing 54.6% of payment due in the first half of the year.
This was lower than the RM81.3mil, or 63.5%, collected in the corresponding period last year.
From Jan 1, MBPP discontinued physical delivery of assessment tax bills.
As of Feb 22, Rajendran said about 66,900 property owners had registered for the e-Bill system.
Following the transition to a fully digital billing system this year, Rajendran said MBPP decided to extend the payment deadline, which is usually Feb 28.
“For this year, we are extending the deadline to March 31.
“We won’t extend the date further beyond this one-month reprieve,” he said during the full board meeting.
Rajendran said MBPP had started reminding ratepayers since December 2024 through promotional campaigns and announcements about the discontinuation of physical bills.
Those who pay late can be fined under Section 148 of the Local Government Act 1976.
“Those who do not pay between April 1 and Aug 31 will be fined RM5, beyond that they will be fined RM10,” he said. — By LAI KHAN HOONG
