Technical glitch, lack of training impeding property tax collection

Technical glitch and lack of proper training to the bank officials are impeding the property tax collection, said the BBMP Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) M Venkatachalapathy.

 In a press meet held here on Thursday, Venkatachalapathy said he was confident that in a week's time the BBMP would overcome the glitch.

The deputy commissioner said he has received complaints that a few Canara Bank employees in certain branches are not cooperating with the taxpayers. “Many Canara Bank employees may not be quite well-versed with the software. We need to train them,” said the Palike officer.

The Palike official added that he had a meeting with the senior officials of the Canara Bank where he explained to them how to use the software. The BBMP is also in talks with other banks such as Uco Bank, IDBI Bank and Corporation Bank for property tax collection in their branches too.

There are also a few issues like taxing the vacant land, exempted properties such as school, colleges, boards and charitable trusts, which fall under the Form-6 of property tax and 50% concession to the residential buildings of defence personnel, which need to be addressed. To a specific query, Venkatachalapathy said the property tax was not revised since 2000. “It has become imperative for the BBMP to increase the property tax to keep the city in order,” he said. He said that the Palike would return the excess money from the taxpayers.

The deputy commissioner (Revenue) conceded that there are instances of the Palike collecting taxes in excess of the specified amount and that it would return the excess money to the taxpayers soon.