Sources have revealed that Chandigarh officials are gearing up to dispatch notices to 750 property tax defaulters in the coming week. Following the issuance of these notices, property owners will be granted a defined window to settle their overdue tax bills. Failure to comply within the specified timeframe may result in punitive measures being taken against them, according to the same sources. This move is part of the city's efforts to address property tax evasion and ensure that all residents contribute their fair share to municipal finances.
Following successful efforts to collect dues from government and commercial properties, the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh is gearing up to pursue residential property tax defaulters. Authorities have identified a total of 750 defaulters who have failed to pay their property tax obligations, amounting to approximately Rs 8-9 crore in unpaid dues, according to sources familiar with the matter.
In a high-level discussion involving senior officials, the civic body has finalized the preparation of recovery notices targeting these residential property tax defaulters. The distribution of these notices is set to commence next week, with specific deadlines given to the defaulters to settle their tax liabilities. Failure to comply with the notices will result in punitive actions, authorities have warned.
These defaulting properties are spread across various sectors within the city, and notices have been categorized sector-wise for efficient distribution. In some cases, the pending property tax includes arrears from previous years, adding to the overall amount owed.
To facilitate the distribution of bills and notices, the municipal authorities have enlisted the services of the Indian Post Office. According to the agreement, the Indian Post Office is charging Rs 15 per notice for local deliveries and Rs 35 per notice for those outside the jurisdiction of Chandigarh.
During a two-month rebate period in April and May, the municipal authority provided a 20% rebate on residential property taxes and a 10% rebate on commercial properties. With the conclusion of the rebate period, property tax defaulters will now face a 25% penalty charge on the outstanding tax amount. Additionally, they will be subject to a 12% interest rate imposed by the civic body authority.
Chandigarh Municipal Corporation's ambitious goal is to collect Rs 92 crore in property tax revenue for the upcoming fiscal year, starting from April 1, 2023. Records show that the civic body has already received Rs 49 crore in property tax revenue from both commercial and residential properties in the city, making property tax income a significant source of revenue for the municipality. This steady increase in property tax income over the past few years has prompted the authority to prioritize this segment of revenue collection.
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