889 households served notices for defaulting on tax payment

In a bid to prevail upon the erring residents, who have defaulted on payment of house tax, the Solan Municipal Corporation (MC) has issued notices to 889 defaulters. As many as 2,476 property owners, who failed to pay tax, are being served notices in a phased manner.

The civic body had begun tax collection in July last year. As against the target of Rs 6.5 crore, which were to be earned by the MC, only a fraction of the amount was deposited by residents since July last year.

Those paying the tax bill within 15 days were granted a 10 per cent rebate. Residents were also given relaxation of depositing tax in two instalments which was supposed to be paid within three-months after issuance of the bill.

Tax rates were notified through e-Sampati portal of the Urban Development Department, which took into account the size, cost and location of the property for assessing tax. Online bills were generated and property owners received a message on their registered mobile phone numbers about the due amount.

Receipt of the tax will boost finances of the cash-strapped civic body, which is largely dependent on the state and Central grants for carrying out development works in Solan.

The Solan MC had undertaken a drone-based survey through the Aryabhatta Geo-informatics and Space Application Centre to assess property tax. The survey, which began in September 2023, used the unit area method to assess the revised tax.

While majority of the state government offices will be liable to pay tax, offices of the Central Government have been exempted, as per the norms. According to the revised rates, tax up to 25 per cent has been levied on commercial and domestic properties by considering factors like location, structure, age and occupancy of the building concerned.The MC earned Rs 4.73 crore property tax annually under the old rates. Revision of the rates also enhanced income of the civic body.