Govt depts fail to pay property tax

Ravneet Singh
Tribune News Service
Patiala, February 19

Government departments with offices in the city have failed to deposit property tax since 2013-14. Sources at the Municipal Corporation (MC) said the amount to be collected from them could run into crores.

The MC had recently held a meeting with officials of the government departments having properties within the municipal limits. The MC is yet to collect tax for properties belonging to 35 government departments. These include Patiala Central Jail, Civil Surgeon’s office, Irrigation Department, DTO office, Polo Ground, Bhakhra mainline, rink hall and Circuit House. 

MC officials said all taxpayers were required to declare the property area held by them and pay the requisite amount accordingly. The officials said they could not reveal the exact amount as there could be a difference in the measurement of property in the knowledge of the civic body and the actual area held by the departments. 

Municipal Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Khaira said, “All owners, occupants and institutions need to deposit property tax from 2013-14 as per the Punjab Municipal Corporation (Second Amendment) Act, 2013.”

As per rules, every owner or occupier is required to calculate the tax and submit it by December 31 every year. If not paid in time, the amount will have to be paid with penalty up to 20 per cent. The principal amount for the current financial year can be paid with 10 per cent penalty till March 31. The MC has categorised properties through a survey. A unique permanent identification number (UPIN) is being given for every property, with which details of properties are attached. The MC has identified 1.40 lakh commercial, residential and mixed use properties.