The Property Tax collection which was slow down during the lockdown has recovered about Rs 100 crores till date. After the Unlock 1.0 and Mission begins again started the property tax collection has sped up through various measures. However, MBMC Commissioner Dr Vijay Rathod said to take strict action against the property tax defaulters. This may include confiscating the property, discontinuing the water and displaying the name on the hoardings at the square.
Property Tax (Collection), which is the main financial source of Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC) also hit hard by the Coronavirus infection. However, after the lockdown has relaxed, about Rs 100 crores recovered by the Municipal Corporation by implementing various measures for tax collection. Now, Municipal administration decided to issue a notice to the tax defaulters.
There are about 3.5 lakh property taxpayers in MBMC jurisdiction. Of these, more than 2.5 lakh are residential while about 55,000 are commercial taxpayers. Although the municipal administration has expected to get Rs 216 crores from property tax last year, it has recovered much less.
In the current financial year 2020-21, MBMC has expected to get the income of Rs 271 crore through property tax. The tax department had started working, accordingly. However, the property tax payments have not been disbursed since the lockdown was imposed amid coronavirus pandemic. Also, the staff of the property tax department was busy, various measures like online tax payment taken by the corporation. To prevent the spread of the coronavirus, MBMC has taken this measure.
From 1.5 Cr to 100 cr
“During the five-month lockdown period, MBMC had received only Rs 1.5 crore in revenue online. It was feared that this would hit property tax collection in the current financial year. However, now it reached to Rs. 100 crores,” said the sources from the department.
“After the lockdown began to ease, in August, MBMC began issuing property tax bills. We had launched various tax collection schemes and campaigns. So far, the corporation has collected property tax of Rs. 99 crore 58 lakhs. Of this, more than Rs 27 crore has been collected through online payments. Rs 72 crore tax has been collected by the property owners at the various counters,” said the commissioner in his statement.
Strict action
“MBMC will issue notices to more than one lakh tax defaulters. If we find necessary, then will display their names on hoardings at the squares. We will confiscate the property of high defaulters,” said the commissioner Dr Rathod.
Dr Vijay Rathod appealed the working property tax defaulters to pay the taxes online or on holidays. “Till March 31, every Saturday, Sunday and holidays the taxpaying centre will be open. Defaulters can pay their arrears at the centre and help us,” said the MBMC chief.
