Civic body sets up counters for tax payment

Chennai: With two weeks to go for city corporation to close its fiscal accounts and to bail out the cash starved corporation exchequer, revenue authorities are now forced to work extra.

Special counters are now set up at shopping malls, market areas and in high-rise buildings urging taxpayers to use the doorstep services provided by tax collectors.

According to Ripon Building sources, by March 31 the corporation has planned to collect an arrear to a tune of Rs 50 crore. Teynampet zone, which houses posh star hotels and high rise commercial buildings alone had attained an all-time high collection of Rs 125 crore for this year. “Over the next weeks we are confident of collecting up to Rs 10 crore through our special initiatives,” said assistant revenue officer Banu Chandran now camping at Spencer’s shopping mall.   

Pending litigation and revision of property tax slabs are another issue we are focusing to deal with. Besides the door-to-door appeal and issue of notices to defaulters campaigns through SMS and outreach programmes are also planned for next few weeks, Joseph Thangaraj another revenue department official said. It may be noted that Chennai Corporation on annual basis collects around Rs 500 crore through property tax.