‘Annual property tax collection unlawful’

The Taxpayers Association on Monday criticised the move of the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) to collect property tax annually terming it an unlawful act.

Speaking to the media persons, association secretary M.V. Anjaneyulu said as per Section 264 of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation Act 1955, a corporation can collect tax either for three or six months. “Even the council has no right to collect annually and it is surprising that a Commissioner is initiating a move on tax collection for one year which is unlawful.” He said even the 2% interest on delayed payment was not within the ambit of law. The statement that the corporation would stop essential services such as drinking water, drainage and other services was nothing but coercion and harassment.

He said it was sad the corporation was not taking interest in collecting the ever-increasing defaults including by legislators, parliamentarians and other influential persons. “The civic body should use these stringent Sections of the law against defaulters, not against the citizens. Because of the inaction of the officers, the corporation is pushed to financial hardship,” he said. He said even the State and the Central government units such as the Railways, the State Guest House, the Police Department, trusts and several religious institutions were not paying tax regularly and no action was taken against them.