Property taxes
Impuesto Predial (property tax) on real estate located in the municipality of Chapala is handled at the Catastro (land registry) office located in the main lobby of the Palacio Municipal (city hall), Avenida Madero 202, open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Tariffs will show an increase of 10 percent over last year. A 15-percent discount is applied for payment effected through February 28, dropping to 5 percent during March and April.
This year Catastro Chapala is introducing online payment mechanisms accessed via the municipal government website www.chapala.gob.mx. To pay at any branch of Santander bank, print out the receipt by clicking the link Pago en Banco, fill in the box labeled Número de Cuenta (account number appearing on previous year’s receipt), retype the security numbers and letters appearing in the next box, click Buscar, then hit the Imprimir button at the bottom of the screen. An option for paying with credit or debit cards should be activated by the end of this week.Taxpayers paying in person at city hall are instructed to pull a numbered ficha from the ticket dispenser, take a seat and wait their turns to present last year’s receipt at one of the windows at their right. Payments (cash or bank card) are collected at the cashier’s window on the opposite side when the ticket number lights up.
Water service fees
Fees for water and sewage services are collected at the Simapa office nearest to the property’s location. Fees have been raised by 4.18 percent over last year’s rates, with a 15- percent discount applied for full payment during January and February.
Accounts for residents of Chapala proper at handled at city hall module situated in the patio just outside the lobby. Addresses of Simapa branches offices:
- Ajijic, Guadalupe Victoria 63, directly behind Farmacias Guadalajara.
- San Antonio Tlayacapan, Carretera Chapala-Jocotepec 117, near Oxxo store.
- Santa Cruz de la Soledad and San Nicolas de Ibarra, Delegacion administrative office at the town plaza.
Vehicle registration
Chapala’s state tax office Recaudadora 026 collects annual registration refrendo (renewal) fees for Jalisco-plated motor vehicles. The office is located at Degollado 306, half way between the cross streets of Acapulco and Avenida Gonzalez Gallo. Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. (See story right for more details.)
Business licenses
Business licenses due at the start of the year are managed by Chapala’s Padron y Licencias office located on the ground floor in the city hall building’s south wing.