Jalandhar's property tax scheme sees surge in first-time taxpayers; OTS deadline extended to August 31

The deadline for the One-Time Settlement (OTS) scheme for property tax recovery has been extended once again, to August 31. This follows an earlier extension from July 31 to August 15.

According to officials, the scheme has seen a significant response, with over 9,000 first-time taxpayers participating. So far, the municipal corporation has recovered Rs 16 crore under the scheme—up from Rs 10 crore collected during the same period last year.

Launched in May, the OTS scheme offers major relief to tax defaulters by waiving the 20% penalty and 18% annual interest on outstanding dues from previous fiscal years.

“This year, due to the scheme, we’ve seen a large number of first-time taxpayers,” said Superintendent Bhupinder Singh.

To raise awareness about the scheme, the administration used SMS alerts, radio advertisements, and social media campaigns. “We have received a positive response, and we’re hopeful that more people will come forward in the next five days,” Singh added.

The city has 1.85 lakh taxable properties, including both residential and commercial units. The total property tax recovery target for the current financial year is Rs 75 crore.