Taxing times for city residents

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 21

Despite the MC claiming that it has procured data from Sampark centres, residents who have paid advance house tax are still getting notices to pay it.

Nearly two months ago, the MC came in for criticism from residents and councillors at a House meet over the issue. Officials had later claimed that they had collected the latest property tax payment details from Sampark centres. However, things have not changed as people are still facing harassment.

In several instances, the tax calculated by the MC, as shown in the notices, is incorrect. “I received a Rs 9,000 tax notice for the past few years. However, when I calculated the amount, it was incorrect. Similarly, others in our locality have received property tax notices ranging from Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000. When hassled residents went to the MC office, they were told to write an application for rectification of the error,” said a 70-year-old woman of Sector 33 on condition of anonymity.

MC Additional Commissioner Anil Kumar Garg said, “We have got data from Sampark centres, but in case anybody has received a notice despite having paid the amount, we will update our records if he or she shows the receipts.”