Times of India 20.07.2009 Paying house tax through your bank

LUCKNOW: Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC) is frantically searching for its untapped sources of house tax, one of the most important sources of revenue for the fund starved municipal body.

A series of steps have already been initiated with an aim to recover the tax which residents often shirk from paying following the lack of civic amenities. "There are others who are simply evading the tax because of apathy or because of the hassles people face while depositing the house tax in any of the zonal office,'' said a senior municipal official.

Now, you might not have to slog anymore if the LMC's plans are anything to go by. To begin with, in a bid to make the process hassle-free, the LMC is all set to enter into an agreement with two nationalised banks through which one can deposit the house tax while sitting in house or office.

According to municipal commissioner, Shailesh Kumar Singh, they would soon enter into an agreement with the two banks -- State Bank of India (SBI) and Union Bank. All that one would need is to have an account in one of the two banks and the internet account activated.

The LMC has already entered into an agreement with the private sector Bank HDFC and the collection has started. "About Rs 25,000 has already been collected,'' said a senior LMC official associated with the house tax collection.

Officials said that they would also involve some private service providers for collection of the crucial tax which one pays in lieu of civic amenities which the municipal body provides.

This is not all. Singh said that they are in the process of changing the existing software which only allows deposition of the house tax in the zonal office only. But with the new software in the making, one would be able to deposit the house tax in any of the zonal office. "It would be transferred to the respective zonal office within 15 days,'' said the municipal commissioner. Municipal officials said that the counter would be established in the existing zonal offices only.

l Have an account in the associated bank

l Get your internet bank account enabled

l Get yourself registered on the LMC's web site -- www.lmc.up.nic.in -- for a user name and password

l Enter one's house ID

l The website gives you the option of the bank

l Complete the transaction and download the receipt