Chapala’s Catastro Land Registry has launched a novel mobile tax collection service for the convenience of property owners who reside in fraccionamientos (subdivisions) and gated communities.
Catastro officials are available to schedule visits to the offices of all home owner associations to receive 2016 predial tax payments and issue corresponding receipts.
The program kicked off January 14 in La Floresta, where eager clients turned up to pay 114 bills over a four-day stretch. Homeowners in San Antonio’s El Parque condominium complex were able to take advantage of the roving tax collection program on Wednesday and Thursday of this week.
Canadian national Robert Hall and his wife Sharon Lea Richmond were the first ones to appear. “We have lived here since 2003 and were the first people to buy a house in El Parque,” Hall said.
Catastro administrative assistant Martha Cervantes quickly pulled up their account on a laptop and printed out a receipt. The couple happily forked over 1,788.57 pesos, the same amount they paid last year, to bilingual cashier Esaul Herrera. The cash-only transaction was completed in three minutes flat.
“This is a great idea; we appreciate the service,” Hall remarked. “Next year they should increase taxes. The government needs more money for infrastructure.”
His spouse added: “It’s nothing compared to the 6,000 dollars we paid back in Vancouver.”
Condo board president Dona Hall (no relation) popped in to pay a friend’s bill. “I already paid my own taxes at City Hall,” she noted. “The service there is very efficient. It took me a lot longer to find a parking place than it did to pay. Doing business here is really handy, especially for people who have trouble getting downtown.”
Catastro on wheels is now booked for Nuevo Chapala, on January 23, 27, 28 and 29; Riviera Alta, January 25 and 26; and Las Catrinas, February 8 and 9. The outreach tax service may be scheduled at other locations upon request.