Maharashtra cabinet announces amnesty scheme for traders to pay their Local Body Tax arrears

In a relief for those traders and shopkeepers who have not paid their Local Body Tax ( LBT), the Maharashtra government on Tuesday announced an amnesty scheme for them to pay their Local Body Tax (LBT) without fear of paying a fine or facing punishment.

The Maharashtra cabinet on Tuesday announced the amnesty scheme by which Traders and shopkeepers who had not paid the LBT as of March 31st this year would not be levied a fine on the amount or punishment if they pay their dues by 31st July this year.

The state government has introduced the scheme as 25 Municipal corporations including the Mumbai Municipal Corporation were facing a loss in revenue as the Traders had not paid the LBT. The LBT has been controversial issue among the traders as they claimed that the provisions in the LBT led to more harassment from civic authorities and were demanding that the state scrap the LBT. The state government has finally decided to scrap the LBT however it has maintained that those traders who have not paid their LBT dues till March 31 will have to pay.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has announced that the amnesty scheme will run from 1st July till 31st July this year. Traders who approach the government after 31st July will not be given amnesty said the state government.