The Hindu 02.12.2009
BBMP nets Rs. 550 crore property tax for 2009-10
Staff Reporter
| Deadline for second instalment was on Monday |
Bangalore: The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike has been able to collect approximately Rs. 550 crore as property tax from around six lakh residents of the city for the year 2009-10.
The BBMP property tax collection centres witnessed a huge rush on Sunday and Monday. Monday was the last date to pay the second instalment of property tax for 2009-10 without penalty and the collection on these two days was as much as Rs. 14 crore. The last date for payment of first instalment was on August 30, 2009.
A senior official in the civic authority’s Revenue Department told The Hindu that 36,700 people had paid their property tax online. “We introduced the online facility this year and the collection was around Rs. 17.70 crore.”
The official said that the civic authority expected more citizens to file their property tax returns, albeit with the two per cent monthly penalty. “We had set a target of collecting at least Rs. 600 crore. Of the total 15 lakh-odd properties in the city, around nine lakh properties come under the tax net. We will now have to assess the remaining properties and collect the tax.” This assessment drive will begin this month, he added.
Last year, around 7.5 lakh property owners paid Rs. 748 crore in taxes to the BBMP. “To ensure 100 per cent payment, BBMP will use the Geographical Information System through which we will be able to scrutinise details such as built-up area, number of floors and usage of the property,” the official added.
Oversight, errors
About notices received by residents who had already paid property tax, the official said that the civic authority had so far issued around three lakh notices.
“Of that, two or three per cent were issued to those who have filed their tax property tax returns. We cannot rule out the possibility of oversight on part of the officials and in some other cases, technical errors.”
He said that the BBMP had issued notifications in the newspapers urging residents to ignore the notices if they have already filed their property tax returns or else contact the jurisdictional Assistant Revenue Officer.
