Municipal Corporation Chandigarh rakes in Rs18 cr from property tax in 2 months

Sandeep Rana
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, July 6

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More than 60 per cent people in the city are yet to pay property tax even as the last date for payment of property tax is July 31.

As per the Municipal Corporation’s (MC) tax branch, currently, there are a total of 1.06 lakh residential and commercial tax payers in the city and 32,332 residential and 7,405 commercial property owners have paid tax so far.

In two months during the lockdown, the cash-starved MC earned a revenue of Rs18 crore from the House and commercial property tax. Of this, Rs8.17 crore came from the House and Rs9.90 crore came from commercial tax. This includes arrears as well.

“We have set a target of Rs48 crore in the current fiscal. Despite the Covid-19 restrictions, we could get Rs18 crore from tax. We hope more number of people will pay tax as the last date is approaching and almost everything is open now,” said an officer privy to the development.

The civic body earned Rs53 crore from property tax in 2019-20.

Till July 31, tax payers will get 20 per cent rebate on residential tax and 10 per cent on commercial tax. However, after the final date, there will be 25 per cent fine and 12 per cent interest on the amount. The corporation earlier extended the date of tax payment due to the lockdown.

On the other hand, the issue of people getting notices for property tax already paid has not been resolved. “People are getting commercial tax notices for 2004 onwards. The authorities are asking them to show receipts in case they have made the payments. Who keeps the payment slips of 15 years ago. They should not send notices of more than four years,” said Devinder Singh Babla, Leader of Opposition in the MC House.