Vellore Corporation has introduced a mobile tax office recently to collect tax from newly constructed buildings.

The bus, which was introduced as a pilot test,  can be used by zonal officers and revenue inspectors to reach spots and levy tax after identifying newly constructed buildings. The officers will measure the buildings and calculate tax, for which a chalan would be issued to the proprietor of the building.

Since its introduction about a week back, tax was levied on nearly 60 new buildings in zone I- Dharapadavedu area, 20 new buildings in zone II - Sathuvachari. The bus would be on rounds till January 8.

“The facility had helped the corporation impose tax on 80 new buildings in Zone I and II so far,” said Town Planning Officer M Kanna.

Officials said if the initiative may become a permanently feature. The Corporation also recently opened the weekend tax collection centres that would function on Saturdays and Sundays, to facilitate officer-goers to pay tax. “There was a favourable response to tax collection centres working during weekends,” Kannan said.

Hitherto, the Corporation could collect only 65 per cent revenue of the total income of local body from all sources, for the year 2012-2013. The officials said the new initiatives would help them achieve a higher percentage in terms of collecting taxes.