The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is streamlining the procedure for obtaining a 40 percent reduction in property tax. However, political leaders across the spectrum have raised concerns about the lengthy process involved in obtaining the rebate. The PMC has requested numerous documents from citizens, causing confusion and uncertainty among the public. Despite the state government's directive to reimburse supplementary taxes for individuals residing in newly built estates, the PMC has opted to distribute the tax evenly across property tax invoices over the next four years.
Last week, the property tax department of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) disclosed that they would be streamlining the procedure for obtaining a 40 percent reduction in property tax. The local government had requested numerous property-related documents from citizens, which consequently prolonged the procedure.
According to Ajit Deshmukh, who oversees the PMC's property tax department, the local government is currently working towards streamlining the tax process and will subsequently generate bills in a more straightforward and user-friendly manner. Subsequently, the procedures involving document verification and administrative tasks will proceed.
Politicians across the political spectrum expressed concerns about the execution of the 40% discount program. Ujwal Keskar, a leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), along with Prashant Badhe of the Sena, have voiced their opposition to the prolonged procedure required for the execution of the 40 percent property tax discount plan. Citizens face a highly demanding and challenging situation. Numerous individuals are expressing uncertainty about the program, resulting in a state of ambiguity.
Keskar confirmed having had a conversation with the head of the tax department and expressing their party’s concerns. The Administration acknowledged the complexity of the process and aims to make it more accessible. Although the PMC has given assurance that individuals who paid extra tax within the past four years will have their bills adjusted, the civic body is making the process convoluted by requesting numerous documents.
Nilesh Nikam, a leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), expressed that the scheme is a complex one and even knowledgeable political figures are struggling to provide clarity on concerns raised by the public. The program ought to be made less complex.
While the property tax rebate, which had been in place since 1970, was eliminated in 2017 and citizens were required to pay back taxes from 1970 to 2017, this decision sparked considerable dissatisfaction among both citizens and political organizations. The state government has made the recent decision to reinstate the 40 percent reduction in property tax for individuals residing in their own homes. As per the state government's directive, the PMC is now obligated to reimburse those who inhabit newly built estates the supplementary taxes that were remitted by them between 2018 and 2023.
Nonetheless, the PMC has opted to distribute this tax evenly across the property tax invoices over the following four years instead of reimbursing it. The public has been urged to furnish the necessary documentation in order to maintain eligibility for this rebate by November 15th of the current year.
Since 1950, PMC has been actively providing services and collecting property tax, which is its secondary means of generating revenue after Octroi. The assessment of a property's value and the corresponding taxation is conducted by either the PMC or the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) in Pune, dependent on the property's location.
This story was first published in ET Realty
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