With only two days remaining, the Jalandhar Municipal Corporation wing still falls short of its property tax objective
The fiscal arm of the Municipal Corporation diligently pursued its collection of property taxes today, notwithstanding the observance of Good Friday as a government holiday. This pursuit shall persist through Saturday and Sunday (March 30 & 31), as only two days remain in the current financial year.
A sum of Rs 22 lakh was reclaimed on Friday, augmenting the total recovery to Rs 43.75 crore. The target set for the fiscal year stands at Rs 45 crore.
Officials of the department reported a steady influx of taxpayers, while their inspectors tirelessly traversed the terrain in pursuit of outstanding dues.
The department has been advocating for tax remittance under the auspices of the One Time Settlement (OTS) scheme. This scheme offers substantial reprieve to delinquents who would otherwise incur a penalty of 20 percent and an interest rate of 18 percent on overdue taxes from prior fiscal periods.
In the course of addressing defaulters, inspectors from the property tax division undertake comprehensive surveys of various locales for tax retrieval. Defaulters failing to remit taxes are served notices pursuant to Section 112 of the Municipal Corporation Act, with a stipulated three-day window for response. Failure to comply results in a subsequent notice under Section 138 of the Act, threatening property seizure.
Taxation Tribulations
The OTS initiative aims to alleviate the burden on defaulters, absolving them from the onerous penalty and interest charges associated with overdue taxes from previous fiscal years.
Defaulters are formally notified under Section 112 of the Municipal Corporation Act, with a mandated three-day grace period for response. Failure to heed this notice prompts further action under Section 138, potentially leading to property forfeiture.
