MCC’s Property Tax Collection drive next month

Mysuru: Despite best efforts of Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) to collect Property Tax, it has failed to cross the Rs. 100 crore mark even once in the last 12 years. Hence, a ‘Property Collection Month’ has been organised from Jan.8 to Feb.7, 2018. The total Property Tax collection for 2017-18 from 1,93,125 properties under the MCC limits was set at Rs. 202.63 crore. However, till November end, it has collected only Rs. 85.93 crore and Rs.116.70 crore is still pending, said a release from the MCC. Repeated warnings of seizure of properties if the owners fail to pay up have fallen on deaf ears. In April, May and June 2017, Rs. 61.19 crore was collected and from July to November Rs. 24.74 crore has been collected, inclusive of 2 per cent interest. In spite of serving 30-day and 15-day notices on tax defaulters, people have not paid their taxes. Hence, most of the development works are languishing due to shortage of funds, the release said. Even schools, colleges, educational institutions and government buildings have not paid 25 per cent service tax and cess. Hence action would be taken according to law against such defaulters too, said the release. Property Tax Collection Month: MCC has organised a ‘Property Tax Collection Month’ at all its zonal offices limits from Jan.8 to Feb.7. It has directed property owners who have not remitted the taxes to pay it to the Corporation with penalty. If the owners fail to pay the taxes with penalty, the properties will be seized as per Section 147 of the City Corporation Act and for all those on whom notice has already been served, this should be treated as the final notice, said MCC Commissioner G. Jagadeesha.