Bengaluru Mulls Amendment to Easing Hefty Property Tax Burden

Bengaluru: Bengaluru city incharge and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Tuesday said that he is in receipt of numerous complaints on hefty property tax imposed on them from the residents and observed that property tax in Bengaluru city has gone up after Property Tax, 2020 came into effect. The State Government would do its best to bring down the penalty imposed on the residents to the extent possible in Bengaluru city and felt the need to bring in amendment to the Property Tax, 2020.

Speaking at a grievance redressal meeting held at Shiroor in Gandhi Nagar of Bengaluru city, the Deputy Chief Minister said there is a need to bring in amendment to the Property Tax, 2020 which resulted in people paying up hefty taxes and stated that discussions are with officials concerned on to bring down the penalty imposed on property taxes including tax exemption for people owning 30X40 dimension sites and sheds installed.

Officials concerned have to been directed not to pressure the residents to pay up taxes and instructions have been clear to the officials concerned that to accept whatever the amount the residents pay up as taxes, said the Deputy Chief Minister and stated that if anybody has paid tax in excess that should be adjusted with the next year’s tax bill.

Under the present system, he said, many property owners have furnished false declaration on the properties owned by them and there are instances where people have three-storeyed buildings while end up paying tax for a single storey and stated that if that taxes are not paid then the development of Bengaluru city would be impossible.

On the street vendors, he said, vendors use push carts to sell their items/products after registration and not to block the pavements to cause inconvenience and pointed out at a High Court order in this regard.