BBMP yet to adjust excess tax paid by house owner last year

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has not completely updated its property tax collection portal though only 13 days are left for the taxpayer to avail five percent rebate on property tax.

C N Ananta Ram, a resident of Vasanthnagar, owns two properties in the same area. He had paid his taxes last year before the hike in property tax and the revised taxation zones were rolled back.

“In 2016-17, I ended up paying almost double the amount I had paid in 2015-16. I had no idea that soon the taxation zone reclassification would be withdrawn. I was later told that the excess paid would be adjusted the following year, which did not happen,” said Ram.

While the arrears of one of his properties was adjusted this year, there was no relief for the second property.

“For property number 17, I had paid around Rs 5,500 in 2015-16. In 2016-17, I paid Rs 11,624, which was more than double the amount. This year, it has been adjusted and I will have to pay Rs 7,754,” said Ananta Ram.

That, however, is not the case with his second property 17/1. In 2015-16, he had paid Rs 9,383 whereas last year, he paid Rs 16,511.

“After calculations, I realised that the tax I should have paid was Rs 11,270 whereas I had paid Rs 5,241 extra. Hence, this year, my tax amount should have been Rs 6,029,” said Ananta Ram.

He was shocked when the BBMP’s portal showed that he will have to pay Rs 15,912 this year too. He said the Palike has not yet adjusted the amount. He claimed that he has come across many people whose arrears have not been adjusted yet.

DH verified his tax details and found that the BBMP had not deducted the excess amount.