Rebate nears end, Rs5.38 cr property tax collected so far

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, September 23

While the last date (September 30) to avail a 10 per cent rebate in property tax is just seven days away, the Municipal Corporation (MC) has collected only 5.38 crore during the ongoing fiscal till date. Even after several efforts by the MC, residents aren’t coming forward to pay the dues and on Wednesday, only Rs18 lakh was collected till the evening.

The MC is offering the 10 per cent rebate to those who pay the tax for the current financial year before September 30. For the tax payers’ convenience, the civic body has been accepting tax payments at all zonal offices and the main office.

There are around 1.5 lakh taxable properties in the city, but only one lakh property owners file tax return. Officials of the MC said despite exemption from penalty and interest, residents do not avail the benefit of the offer due to financial crisis induced by Covid-19. The officials said residents who had failed to deposit their property tax could get 10 per cent rebate only till September 30. After the end of the offer, they will have to pay both penalty and interest.

Pardeep Rajput, nodal officer of property tax, said: “The 10 per cent rebate offer is for the benefit of residents, so they must take avail themselves of the scheme and pay tax by September 30.”

Mayor Karamjit Singh Rintu has also urged residents to deposit pending tax by September 30.

1 lakh property tax payers

• There are around 1.5 lakh taxable properties in the city, but only one lakh property owners file tax return. Officials of the MC said despite exemption from penalty and interest, residents do not avail the benefit of the offer due to financial crisis induced by Covid-19
• Officials of the Municipal Corporation said residents who had failed to deposit their property tax would get the 10 per cent rebate only till September 30. After the end of the offer, they will have to pay both penalty and interest