Hyderabad: Early birds haven’t got their share of the worm. Home owners who paid their tax early are disappointed with the GHMC for its failure to live up to its promise. The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation had announced that five per cent discount would be offered on property tax for owners who paid their tax by April-end.

With just four days to go for the first month of the current financial year to end, the tempting sop is yet to be implemented. Over 90,000 tax payers have till now paid `22 crore, but nobody has got the rebate.

“The tall promises of five per cent discount on tax paid before April-end has remained on paper. The GHMC should stop taking the early tax-payers for a ride,” said Amritha Rao, a Somajiguda resident.

As per the GHMC Act, property tax can be paid either in full or in two instalments. There are no penalties on the first instalment before July 31. After that a penalty of two per cent of the tax is levied on first instalment. The last date of submission of  the second instalment without penalty is October 15.

After October 15, the penalty is levied on the total tax paid. Citizens who have been paying tax well before July 31, said the government has been waiving penalty on tax in March for the last couple of financial years.

“When those paying tax late are extended the benefit of escaping penalty, why should punctual tax payers like us not be extended the announced benefit? We can keep the money in the bank and earn interest” said A. Dayanand of Tata Chary Colony. GHMC officials said the government is yet to issue the order to implement the scheme.