Despite 10% rebate, Amritsar MC sees no big rise in property tax collection

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, February 13

There are only two weeks left for paying the property tax with a 10 per cent rebate on one-time settlement (OTS) scheme, the Municipal Corporation authorities have not witnessed a significant rise in the tax collection.

However, in this financial year, the Municipal Corporation (MC) has recovered Rs 22.72 crore as property tax till today. The MC had recovered Rs 22.43 crore during the 2018-19 financial year. The property tax wing of the civic body has been conducting ward level camps to increase the recovery.

Around 1.5 lakh properties are taxable in the city, but only 1,02,265 property owners filed tax return. Officials said despite exemption from penalty and interest, the residents not take the benefit of offer. MC officials said the residents who had failed to deposit their property tax could get 10 per cent rebate on the principal amount only till February 26. After the end of government’s offer the residents have to pay the penalty and interest along with the capital amount.

Pardeep Rajput, nodal officer of property tax, said, “The OTS scheme is the best offer for residents, but they are not showing interest as per our expectations. We urged the residents to take its benefit”.

Mayor Karamjit Singh Rintu has also urged the residents to deposit the pending tax till February 26 to get benefit of the scheme.