The Hindu       28.02.2014

Haryana announces major relief in property tax

Ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, the Haryana Government has
announced a major relief in the payment of property tax in the State
municipalities.

Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda,
while presiding over the State Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, announced a
one-time rebate of 30 per cent for those property owners who clear all
their dues or arrears up to year 2012-13 by March 31, 2014.

However,
mobile phones costing above Rs.10,000 would be more expensive, with the
Cabinet deciding to increase VAT to 8 per cent from 5 per cent at
present.

The government has also announced a rebate
of 10 per cent admissible to those assesses who pay their total tax for
the assessment year by July 31 of that assessment year, a statement
said. For 2013-14, the concession of 10 per cent would be admissible to
those assesses who deposit their dues by March 31, 2014.

Mr.
Hooda said that 100 per cent rebate would be given till March 31, 2016,
to properties situated in ‘lal dora’ (land which is part of the village
habitation) of those villages which have come in the limits of the
municipalities on or after April 1, 2010.

The Chief
Minister also announced 50 per cent cut on property tax on petrol pumps.
Similarly, 50 per cent rebate in commercial space rate has also been
given to IT Park, cyber city or parks of all municipalities.

The
flats constructed over an area of 2,000 square feet would also get 50
per cent cut in property tax. This will benefit about 80 per cent flat
owners in the State.

The Cabinet also approved to reduce the VAT rates on scientific instruments under the Haryana Value Added Tax Act, 2003.

The
scientific instrument industry of Ambala has been demanding for the
reduction of the VAT on equipments to 5 per cent from 12.5 per cent at
present. – PTI