‘Pay property tax before April 30, avail 5% discount’

The residents of Municipal Corporation of Karimnagar were asked to pay their property tax for the year 2018-19 before April 30 to avail a 5% discount under the early bird scheme.

Speaking to the media here on Friday, Municipal Commissioner K. Shashanka said that already ₹12.68 lakh had been collected in property taxes from 468 assesses in the town. Last April, authorities had collected ₹1.64 crore by providing the rebate.

MCK would also draw weekly lots and provide prizes to residents who pay their property taxes within the month.

During the 2017-18 fiscal year, Mr. Shashanka said the municipality had collected ₹18.88 crore in property taxes against the target of ₹20.88 crore, amounting to 90.39% collection. During the previous year, MCK had collected ₹17.50 crore. The dues from government properties had piled up to ₹4.91 crore. The advertisement tax collection was ₹62.70 crore during the year 2017-18.

With regard to the tax levied for providing drinking water taps, he said MCK could only collect ₹3.37 crore against the demand of ₹7 crore.

The Commissioner said authorities had decided to make online payment compulsory for all tap connections to ensure there is no pilferage and that more taxes are collected by the corporation. Computerisation of property taxes and water tap connections of every household beginning from 2007 would be taken up to improve transparency and efficiency.

A survey would be taken up by a third party to ensure that all residents and commercial establishments within the corporation’s limits are under the tax fold, Mr. Shashanka said.