The Times of India 21.11.2013
Five shops raided for flouting local body tax rules
KALWA: Food product distributors from reputed companies were targeted by the local body tax (LBT) wing of the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) on Wednesday at Kalwa. Four such distributors were raided by the team, for reportedly flouting LBT rules by evading payment since April 1.
The shops that faced the wrath of surprise raid were Swami Samarth Enterprises, Gajanan Agency, DHO Agency and Om Distributors. Besides, a hardware store named Choudhary Pipes and Fittings also came under the scanner.
Deputy municipal commissioner Dilip Dhole monitored the raid with his subordinates.
"We will continue to raid the tax evaders based on their past transactions in the octroi regime," said Dhole.
Hundreds of traders turned up to pay their dues on Tuesday and Wednesday after the TMC sent reminders through emails and text messages to LBT defaulters.
By Tuesday the civic body was richer with Rs 268 crore, including stamp duty and escort charges. With over 19,000 text messages and 7,000 emails sent to registered traders in the city limits in the last few days, a good number of payers turned up to pay their dues.
"We recorded Rs 13 crore in the last three days to reach Rs 268 crore from last week's Rs 255 crore. Apart from this, raids are being conducted by our team to bring the defaulters into book. We are trying all ways to recover the expected amount through LBT," said Dilip Dhole, deputy municipal commissioner and head of LBT department.
So far, over 28, 000 traders in the city have been registered under LBT net out of which 1, 500 have taken advantage of newly introduced online payment system which was introduced last week. TMC plans to continue the sms and email sending system every month as a gentle reminder to the traders to pay tax on or before 20th day of every month.
"As today, November 20, is the last date for making payment of LBT for October, we have seen serpentine queues at collection centres and rush in online payment portal. This turnout is attributed to our effort to bring all traders into LBT net through courtesy reminders via sms and emails," said an officer.
