MCD waives penalty, interest to recover property tax dues

NEW DELHI: With MCD property tax worth crores of rupees due against various government and private organisations, the civic body has now offered immunity till November 30, waiving penalty and interest on payments under a new settlement scheme to benefit thousands of residents.

"The long-awaited scheme of settling property tax arrears with immunity of penalty and waiver of interest has started from August 19 and the scheme will continue till November 30 this year," chairman of the high-powered property tax committee, North Delhi Municipal Corporation, Rajesh Bhatia said.

He said property tax worth crores of rupees is due against various government and private organisations and the department is making efforts to collect it

The chairman said that necessary directions have been issued to all property tax offices for effective implementation of this scheme and advertisements have been published in all major newspapers to inform property owners about the same.

"This scheme will benefit four types of property owners - ex-parte assessment under old rateable value system; rateable value already determined on merit; unit area method and those whose cases are pending in courts and are willing to resolve them out of court," North Delhi corporation public relations officer Yogendra Singh Mann said.

Bhatia also informed that under this scheme, property tax will be accepted only through pay-order or demand draft. Besides, if any property owner feels that his case is being dragged deliberately or is being harassed, complaint can be made directly to him, he said.

He said "a property tax settlement scheme has been brought for the first time for Unit Area System cases after its implementation in 2004. Pending property tax under unit area system can also be disposed off under this new scheme".

Mann said the scheme has been started following a feedback from citizens.

"On the basis of the feedback received from citizens, it has been found out that property owners want to pay their property tax but are not satisfied with the assessment orders passed against their properties.

"Property owners also believe that much higher amount of tax is levied on their properties and hence they choose not to pay the property tax," Mann said.