The Hindu 29.09.2010
Property tax demand notices: GVMC awaits State decision
Staff Reporter
| Assessees, who do not intend to file revision petitions, are in a dilemma |
VISAKHAPATNAM: The Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation is awaiting the State Government's decision on the plea to reduce the quantum of hike in property tax for issuing demand notices for payment of the tax.
Special notices have already been issued to almost all the 3.31 lakh assessments after the government directed the corporation to implement the tax hike based on average rental values and plinth area.
Up to the third week of September, 39,188 revision petitions have been filed.
The corporation can issue demand notices to all those who have not filed revision petitions once the mandatory 15 days period for filing them is over.
However, following the opposition parties' agitation against the ‘steep hike' in property tax, the Mayor led an all-party delegation to Hyderabad and represented to Chief Minister K. Rosaiah and Municipal Administration Minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy to limit the hike to 50 per cent of the tax prevailing on March 31, 2010. Both were said to have reacted positively.
Assessees, who do not intend to file revision petitions, are caught in a dilemma wondering if they would get the benefit in case the government effects a reduction after they paid the tax.
“If any such decision (on lowering the tax) is taken, the additional amount paid by them would be adjusted against future tax demand,” says an official. The tax details and how the tax is arrived at are available on the website of the GVMC. Those satisfied with it may pay the tax or wait till the demand notice is served.
Meanwhile, 80,374 assessees have paid Rs.3.59 crore of property tax up to September 24.
Hearing in 16,968 revision petitions has been completed and a mere 447 disposed. Disposal would take time as physical verification of the properties is involved, added the official.
