GEORGE TOWN: The Penang government, through the state executive council last week, has agreed to grant a 100 per cent exemption on outstanding quit rent and parcel rent penalties to all land and strata owners in the state who settle their payments from Jan 2 to Feb 28, next year.
Chief Minister's Office in a statement said it has also agreed to grant a 50 per cent reduction on outstanding quit rent and parcel rent penalties to all land and strata owners who settle payments from March 1 to May 31.
Both incentives and offers are also extended to landowners or strata owners who have received Notice of Penalty 6A or Notice of Penalty 11, it said.
However, the offer of exemption and reduction on outstanding quit rent and parcel rent penalties do not apply to those making payments in instalments, it said.
"This offer is not retrospective and cannot be enjoyed by land or strata owners who have made late penalty payments before the exemption and reduction are enforced.
"A review has found significant outstanding late penalties involving 40,371 quit rent and parcel rent accounts (67,537 accounts) in Penang, amounting to nearly RM40.1 million.
"If land and strata owners do not settle their taxes promptly, their units may be forfeited by the state authorities due to the existing payment arrears," it said today.
In general, the Chief Minister's Office said, the discount incentives provided by the state government were intended to encourage land and strata owners to make their 2025 tax payments earlier.
"Additionally, it also aims to ease the burden of land and strata owners with high outstanding penalties due to non-payment before May 31 each year.
"Therefore, the state government hopes that all land and strata owners in the state will seize the opportunity to make their payments as soon as possible from Jan 2 to Feb 28, in order to enjoy the 100 per cent exemption on outstanding penalties," it added.
Payments can be made in lump sums at the District and Land Office counters or online through the PgLAND portal.