MC collects Rs 52L on last day for paying property tax sans penalty

The Amritsar Municipal Corporation collected Rs 52 lakh on Tuesday, the final day to pay property tax without incurring a penalty. This surge in payments brought the total collection to 31.65 crore, with over 85,000 property taxpayers contributing to this amount since April 1st.

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The municipal corporation had set a target of collecting Rs 50 crore during the ongoing fiscal year, which ends on March 31. While they are yet to achieve this goal, the MC officials are hopeful that the remaining amount will be collected in the coming months. As of today, property owners, who have not paid their taxes, will be required to pay a 10 per cent penalty on current tax. Traders and residents have to face additional financial burden for not paying tax on time.

“We are already struggling to make ends meet and the added penalty will only make things more difficult. So it was good to pay tax before the end of the year. After standing in the queue for 20 minutes, finally I have paid tax,” said Vikas Khanna, a local trader.

MC officials stated that residents have to pay tax to maintain the city’s infrastructure.

“We have installed the boards and made announcements to encourage property owners to pay their taxes on time to avoid penalties. A good number of residents and traders paid property tax. We received property tax through the MC’s portal too. The funds collected from property taxes are essential for maintaining the city’s infrastructure and providing basic amenities to residents. So residents should pay it on time,” said Sushant Bhatia, MC Secretary.

“I didn’t want to risk paying the penalty, so I made sure to pay my taxes on time. It’s a relief to have it done and I hope the MC uses the funds wisely,” said Ravi Kiran Singh, a taxpayer.