The New Indian Express 21.11.2019
Revised property tax to be withheld
It has also constituted a committee to examine representations from various quarters on the revised property tax rates.
CHENNAI: The State government has withheld its revised
property tax, allowing property owners to continue paying taxes at the
pre-revision rates. It has also constituted a committee to examine
representations from various quarters on the revised property tax
rates.
According to a GO issued by the
Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department, the revised tax
rates, which were in effect since April 2018, will be withheld until the
committee submits its report and a final decision is taken.
The four-member committee comprises the
Principal Secretary to Government, Finance (Expenditure) Department, as
its Chairman; Commissioner of Municipal Administration as its
Member/Convener; Director of Town Panchayats and Commissioner of Greater
Chennai Corporation as members.
Municipal Administration Minister SP Velumani told reporters on Tuesday
that those who already paid the revised tax would be compensated.
“WE had received several representations
and objections to the revised property tax rates after which it was
announced in the Assembly that a committee will be formed. However, we
continued to receive complaints and so we have taken this decision,”
Minister SP Velumani said.
Adding to what he called a ‘good news’ for property owners in the State,
Velumani said although there was no deadline set for the committee to
submit its report, it would be done as soon as possible.
It had been decided last year that
residential buildings may face up to a 50% increase in property tax and
commercial buildings, up to a 100%. This move was opposed by various
residential welfare organisations which claimed they had to pay
exorbitant taxes.
The Commissioner of Municipal Administration, Commissioner of GCC and
the Director of Town Panchayats had requested the formation of a
committee to examine the issues relating to the general revision of
property tax in all the urban local bodies and the issue of
rationalization of property tax in the added areas based on
re-measurement.