For Chapala area residents keen to promptly deal with annual fiscal responsibilities and take advantage of early bird discount rates, the Reporter has put together a quick guide to paying 2017 property taxes and water service fees.
Offices re-open for regular business as of January 2, operating on weekdays, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Predial (Property tax)
Pay impuesto predial (property tax) in person at the Catastro (Land Registry) and cashier windows located in the City Hall lobby, or take advantage of a mobile unit that will rotate to various other locations as listed below.
If you pay at Catastro, take a numbered ficha from the ticket dispenser and wait until the number lights up on the digital screen above the counter. Show attending official last year’s receipt to access your account. Then take a seat until the number reappears at cashier windows across the room to pay by cash or bank card and collect the 2017 receipt.
Service is generally fast and efficient unless a large crowd of tax payers shows up simultaneously. The city provides seating and free coffee to ease delays.
Mobile collection schedule: January 2-4, El Parque; January 7, 9 and 10: Nuevo Chapala; January 12-14 and 16-18, La Floresta; January 19-20, Vista Alegre; January 23-24, Las Catarinas; January 26-27 and 30-31; Lomas de Ajijic; February 1-3, Delegación San Antonio; February 6-8, Ajijic; February 9-10; Delegación Santa Cruz; February 13-14, Delegación San Nicolás.
Rates: The Chapala City Council approved a five percent hike in predial rates for 2017. However, slightly higher increases may apply to properties in Chapala, Ajijic and San Antonio that have been subject to recent value reassessments. A 15 percent discount is offered for payments received by February 28, dropping to five percent during March.
Water service fees
Pay local water supply and sewage services in person at the Simapa office corresponding to your place of residence.
Locations: Chapala-Madero 208, next door to City Hall; Ajijic-Guadalupe Victoria 63, behind Farmacias Guadalajara; San Antonio-Carretera 117, next to Oxxo store; and Delegación offices in Atotonilquillo, Santa Cruz de la Soledad and San Nicolás de Ibarra.
Rates: Fees vary according to the location and type of the property and whether consumption is calculated by cuota fija (fixed rate) or servicio medido (metered measurement). The authorized tariff increase for 2017 is 7.11 percent over last year’s fees, with a 15 percent discount applied to annual bills paid in full by February 28 and five percent off from March 1 through April 30.