You may be a newly minted physician, lawyer, nurse or any licensed professional eager to get your first job. You’ve prepared all the necessary documents you need but alas, you’re asked to present your PTR. Huh? You ask. The what?!?!
In the Philippines, some professions need to pay an annual tax for the privilege of practicing their profession (Professional Tax). The PTR or the Professional Tax Receipt, as the name implies is the document that proves you’ve paid your annual dues. I don’t exactly know the importance of the PTR in other professions, but for physicians like me, just for simplicity’s sake, it’s the second set of numbers we write on our prescriptions aside from the license number (fyi, there’s a third set of numbers called the S2 license). The PTR is important especially for giving out prescriptions to senior citizens since the senior citizen’s discount will not be honored or applied if the prescription didn’t have the doctor’s PTR. This is the main reason why I rushed to the city hall to pay my tax this afternoon aside from the fact that I might need it for residency training purposes.
Getting your PTR is easy, at least at our city hall here in Las Pinas. In fact, my transportation time was longer than my actual stay at the city hall. LOL. I was asked to present two documents: 1) a cedula and 2) my PRC license ID. I used the same cedula I presented at PRC way back in July when I filed my application
for the board exam. So if I were you, I’d start looking for that little piece of paper in your stash. =)
Here’s the step-by-step guide on how to pay for the professional tax here at Las Pinas City Hall.
1) As soon as you enter the city hall, there’s an assistance counter to your left after the three cashiers for “miscellaneous transactions”. Approach them and tell them you’re paying for your professional tax receipt. They will give you a number. They will also hand you a small info sheet if you don’t have your cedula with you. To get a valid/legal cedula, present the filled up info sheet at the counters across the assistance desk and pay your community tax.
2) Prepare your cedula and your PRC license ID/IBP lawyer’s ID. Wait for your turn at the queue. The cashiers you’ll be approaching are cashiers 19, 20 and 21 (if I am not mistaken) or the cashiers servicing the “miscellaneous transactions”.
3) Pay the annual tax. It was my first PTR and I was charged 250 pesos. I don’t know how much it will cost if it’s your 2nd, 3rd, and so forth year.
And… YOU’RE DONE! Keep your PTR in a safe place because I heard you’ll need to present it when you’re paying your dues next year.
It took me less than five minutes. It might take you longer depending on the queue. =) I hope I helped! Oh, before I go, you might want to check out this site for funny t shirts being sold online. Thanks and God Bless!
Certain professions are charged an annual tax for the privilege of practicing the profession. These are lawyers, accountants, doctors, engineers, etc. The taxing authority is the city or province where the professional is going to practice, so you go to city hall to pay. To enforce compliance, some professions are required to display your PTR in documents.
unaware-soldierly