Senator Brenda Pérez Soto, who represents the Arecibo District, filed Senate Bill 1497 by request. It would set up a special 90-day period for taxpayers with debts on personal and real property owed to the Municipal Revenue Collection Center (CRIM) to pay the principal owed and receive relief from accumulated interest, surcharges and penalties. The measure seeks to reestablish a temporary mechanism that makes it easier to pay overdue obligations and allows CRIM to recover pending revenue that belongs to Puerto Rico’s municipalities.
According to the press release, the bill’s statement of motives acknowledges that property taxes are one of the main sources of municipal revenue and help sustain services and fiscal obligations. If it becomes law, eligible taxpayers who pay the full principal of the debt included in the program during the 90 days would be released from the interest, surcharges and penalties accrued on that amount.
The bill also covers taxpayers who currently have CRIM payment plans, who could take part with respect to the outstanding principal balance. People with administrative or judicial proceedings tied to an eligible debt could also participate, subject to the bill’s conditions. Pérez Soto said her office receives people facing serious situations with CRIM debts who struggle to pay because of surcharges and interest, and that a constituent brought cases of people pressured by the possibility of losing their properties.