The Times of India 12.03.2013
LMC targets Rs 100cr house tax in FY 2013
LUCKNOW: The Lucknow Nagar Nigam has set a target of Rs 100 crore to collect as house tax
in financial year 2013. The initial target was Rs 120 crore but due to
shortage of revenue inspectors who make sure that all houses are covered
under tax net, the target was reduced.
There are around 5,62,000 properties in Lucknow which come under tax net. Authorities claimed that around 60-70% of these houses have been covered already so far. Even though LMC last revised house tax rates in April 2010, sources in LMC claim that the inspectors could assess only 10-15% properties till April 2012.
Municipal commissioner, RK Singh said, "It is only during last year that we have been able to collect tax from about 50-60% properties. We would have achieved our initial target, if we didn't have manpower crunch." LMC currently has only six revenue inspectors as against requirement of 84. Moreover, around seven tax superintendants and six tax assessment officers have been transferred from LMC. As a result, LMC is facing difficulty collecting house tax.
To meet the target, nagar nigam has also started issuing attachment notices to property owners who have been defaulting payment of house tax for many years. Last week, LMC issued the notice to about 120-odd persons.
Officials confirmed that on Monday zonal inspectors were able to collect Rs 70 lakh from defaulters on a single day. Commissioner said the LMC was confident to complete the set target of house tax amount by March-end. In fact within March, LMC targets to recover more than Rs 30 crore. He said that around 80% of the residents from trans-Gomti areas like Gomtinagar, Aliganj, Mahanagar, Vikasnagar have already submitted their pending dues. "But, we need to put in some extra effort in the old city areas like Chowk to recover tax amount. These are smaller properties and most of the colonies are not planned, which is why our inspectors face difficulty collecting tax from this part", added Singh.
Officials said out of the total target, only 10% comprises previous years' arrears while 80% is the current assessment.
There are around 5,62,000 properties in Lucknow which come under tax net. Authorities claimed that around 60-70% of these houses have been covered already so far. Even though LMC last revised house tax rates in April 2010, sources in LMC claim that the inspectors could assess only 10-15% properties till April 2012.
Municipal commissioner, RK Singh said, "It is only during last year that we have been able to collect tax from about 50-60% properties. We would have achieved our initial target, if we didn't have manpower crunch." LMC currently has only six revenue inspectors as against requirement of 84. Moreover, around seven tax superintendants and six tax assessment officers have been transferred from LMC. As a result, LMC is facing difficulty collecting house tax.
To meet the target, nagar nigam has also started issuing attachment notices to property owners who have been defaulting payment of house tax for many years. Last week, LMC issued the notice to about 120-odd persons.
Officials confirmed that on Monday zonal inspectors were able to collect Rs 70 lakh from defaulters on a single day. Commissioner said the LMC was confident to complete the set target of house tax amount by March-end. In fact within March, LMC targets to recover more than Rs 30 crore. He said that around 80% of the residents from trans-Gomti areas like Gomtinagar, Aliganj, Mahanagar, Vikasnagar have already submitted their pending dues. "But, we need to put in some extra effort in the old city areas like Chowk to recover tax amount. These are smaller properties and most of the colonies are not planned, which is why our inspectors face difficulty collecting tax from this part", added Singh.
Officials said out of the total target, only 10% comprises previous years' arrears while 80% is the current assessment.
