The constant demand from the public has made BBMP extend the deadlines for availing a 5% rebate on property tax from earlier April 30 to current May 31, 2020. New due dates were announced nearly a month after the Directorate of Municipal Administration gave a similar extension to all the urban local bodies, excluding the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) witnessing the difficulties faced by the taxpayers of Bengaluru while paying the property tax
Property owners are demanding a larger extension in the time limit for availing the 5% rebate as there is no arrangement of police passes for them so that they can visit the banks and deposit the tax. Adding on the tax officials are constantly focusing on paying the tax online but not many are actually convinced with the idea. Previous year BBMP collected Rs. 2,700 Crore failing to achieve the target of Rs. 3000 crore collection. Adding on it was unable to collect the tax arrears of Rs. 1,000 crores.
MK Gunashekhar, the Jayamahal Ward Corporator on Tuesday wrote to the mayor stressing on the April tax revenue that considerably fell as compared to the collection in the same period last year. Where the collection last year stood at Rs. 992.10 crores (FY 2019-20) this year the numbers were still at Rs. 261 crores till 28 April 2020. Clearly, it is only 26.34% of the collection last year. Gunashekher requested the authorities to extend a 5% discount to the taxpayers for an additional month as it would cause no harm to anyone, in fact, it will be in favor of both the public and the corporation.
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In the circular issued by BBMP on Tuesday, the complications amid COVID-19 were being highlighted saying that due to the provisional law issued by the government that is curbing the movement of people, it is difficult for the taxpayers to go to the banks and pay taxes, therefore, to give relaxations in the compliance, it has been decided to extend the deadline for 5% discount availment (on property tax) till 31 May 2020.
It’s not clear as to how to remit property tax even with the extension of time for availing a 5% rebate by those owners who do not either know or have the online digital facility. There must be an alternate way out for remitting property tax by such people