BBMP holds survey to trap tax evaders

The BBMP's Tax and Finance Standing Committee has reached out to an external agency to identify building owners who have not paid property tax.

The proposal to survey Mahadevapura and Bommanahalli zones will be approved at the next council meeting. The survey would distinguish tax for homes, sites and commercial units in the two zones.  

It would collect details of owners who have paid the tax and those who did not, while also ascertaining the reasons for non-payment. "The tax collected for 2017-18 did not match the demand," Tax and Finance Standing Committee chairman Mahadev M said. "We have asked for the survey to plug the tax leakage. After all, the civic body depends on the tax for its financial stability."

He said BBMP officials would take action on those who failed to pay the tax based on the survey. In 2016-17 the civic body had collected Rs 1,700 crore until
December.

"We've to prepare the budget depending on the tax we collect," Mahadev said.

The BBMP would put up a board before the properties of non-payers saying, 'This property belongs to BBMP' in an attempt to name and shame them.

"We think the message would prompt owners to clear the outstanding tax amount," Mahadev said, adding that the board would go up before most of the 18.77 lakh properties, the  majority of which have not paid property tax.