No penalty on property tax till Jan 15

Bathinda, October 21

To overcome financial crisis, the government has announced to give relaxation to the property tax defaulters.

Lately, the Local Bodies Department issued a notification in which it was stated that if anybody had not paid property tax from 2013, he/she can pay it without any interest or penalty till January 15, 2018.

It is also stated that from January 16 to April 15, 2018, the MC would recover pending amount with 10 per cent penalty.

This penalty will be imposed on the principal amount. After April 16, 2018, defaulters will have to pay the tax with 10 per cent penalty and 18 per cent interest.

In Bathinda, around 25,000 residents, who have not paid the property tax, stand to get benefit.

In the Municipal Corporation, 50,000 units come in the ambit of property tax.

If 50 per cent of the defaulters pay the tax, the MCB would add Rs 3-4 crore to its account.

The MCB has to collect property tax of Rs 8 crore every year.

As per the MCB data, there are 25,000 residents who have not deposited the tax for 2017-18.

However, the MCB has issued more than 15,000 notices. The civic body has also warned the defaulters of strict action.

Property tax is applicable on 47,454 units in the city, in which for 22,000 units, property tax has been deposited for 2017-18.

MCB officials said by next week, they would start a sealing campaign for tax recovery.

Ahead of Diwali, the state government had given 10 per cent rebate on depositing of property tax till September 30. On the last day, Rs 17.65 lakh property tax was collected by the MCB. — TNS