Bengaluru: Property owners can avail a rebate of five per cent on the property tax if they make online payments by April 30 and the BBMP claims it has fixed all the technical flaws.
BBMP Commissioner Manjunath Prasad told Deccan Chronicle that all the technical glitches related to online payment of property tax have been resolved and the revenue officials along with the BBMP standing Committee on Taxation and Finance are cracking the whip against those evading tax or under-declaring the property under the Self Assessment Scheme. The Karnataka Municipal Corporations (KMC) Act 1976 provides for revalidation of properties up to 20 per cent.
It may be recalled that following the mandatory online property tax system introduced by the BBMP in 2015-16, tax payers faced a tough time. While some were not able to make online payment, some others ended up paying double the tax amount.
The BBMP has set a target of Rs 2,600 crore for the year 2017-18. Although April 30 is the last date to avail the rebate, it is likely to be extended by another month by the BBMP council.
Last year, BBMP had hiked the property tax by 20 per cent for residential units and 25 per cent on commercial structures. It had also proposed for reorganisation of property tax zones to boost revenue collection. However, following vehement opposition from the BJP and citizens, the reclassification was withdrawn, sources said.
Digital numbering will be given to each of the properties. Already, a resolution in this regard has been passed and sent to the government for approval. In addition, Total Station Survey and manual survey will help identify and catch tax evaders. This will help mop up revenue generation for the BBMP, said M.K. Gunashekar, Chairman, BBMP Taxation and Finance Committee.
The BBMP has already floated tenders to shortlist agencies to carry out total station survey on malls, technology parks and major industrial units. This helps to create a digital survey report too. The BBMP is already working towards meeting the target of Rs 2,600 crore, he added.
BBMP’s expected tax revenue for 2017-18
Property tax
Rs 2,600 Crore
Cess
Rs 624 Crore
Improvement charges
Rs 140 Crore
Penalty
Rs 175 Crore
SWM cess
Rs 50 Crore
Tax from govt. buildings
Rs 65 Crore
Total
Rs 3,726 Cr
