Consistent with its value on good governance, SM maintained its position as one of the country’s top taxpayers for taxable year 2015. The mall company received several awards from different communities where it emerged as the no. 1 taxpayer in the Local Business Tax and Real Property Tax categories, while keeping its top positions in other localities spread across the country.
For local business and real property tax categories, SM Megamall, SM City Masinag, SM City Bacoor, SM City Molino, SM City Baguio, and SM City Naga emerged as the no. 1 taxpayers in their respective communities. SM Malls located in Quezon City namely SM City North Edsa, SM City Sta. Mesa, SM City Fairview and SM City Novaliches received the Hall of Fame award for being a consistent top taxpayer in 2015.
Top real property tax awards went to SM Southmall, SM Center Las Piñas, SM North EDSA, SM City Fairview, SM City Novaliches, SM City Dasmariñas, SM Marketmall Dasmariñas, SM City Sta. Mesa, SM Baliwag, SM Cauayan, SM City Lucena, SM City Olongapo, SM City Rosales, SM City Rosario, SM City San Pablo, SM City Taytay, SM City Tarlac, SM City Consolacion, SM City Cebu, and SM City Bacolod. Other cities and municipalities that benefited from taxes paid by SM include Apalit, San Fernando and Mexico (Pampanga); Batangas City; Calamba City and Santa Rosa City (Laguna); Iloilo City; Lipa City; Manila; Marikina City; Marilao (Bulacan); Muntinlupa City; Pasay City; and Valenzuela City.
For taxable year 2014, SM landed on the 9th spot of the Bureau of Internal Revenue’s top non-individual taxpayers list, contributing over Php3.1B in paid taxes.
“Part of our mission is to provide opportunities where we are present. It is our social responsibility to pay our taxes transparently and on time so that our respective communities can continue to finance its own economic development programs,” said Ms. Annie S. Garcia, President of SM Supermalls.
SM’s presence in communities has helped create jobs and opened doors for local businesses, big and small, to take advantage of the mall’s large customer traffic. The mall company has also helped in turning communities into tourism destinations because of its premier shopping, dining and lifestyle products and services.