MCC collects all time high SAS in M'lore

The MCC is successful in collecting Rs 26.94 crore (both SAS and ARV), thus registering a success of 90.21 per cent so far. The total revenue expectation through SAS and arrears under old annual rental value (ARV) system for the two assessment years was Rs 29.86 crore. 

Speaking to Deccan Herald, MCC Commissioner Dr K N Vijayaprakash said in 2009-10, the MCC has registered 94.38 per cent success in the collection of SAS alone.

The property tax collection in February 2010 was only 39 per cent; in January, it was 34.17 per cent. The corporation netted Rs 10.27 crore under ARV in 2007-08 against the target of Rs 15.92 crore.

The collection under SAS in 2008-09 was Rs 6.04 crore against target of Rs 14.82 crore and ARV Rs 3.10 crore against the target of Rs 5.65 crore.

He said “Mangalore City Corporation went on an overdrive to collect property tax under the self assessment scheme (SAS). Buoyed by the State government’s final approval of rates under which it could collect tax, the Corporation made arrangements to enable people pay their taxes for the assessment years 2008-09 and 2009-10 respectively at 46 branches of 16 banks spread over 53 revenue wards of the civic body along with the sub offices of Mangalore City Corporation. In fact, the MCC had requested the banks to open additional counters to facilitate the citizens to pay the tax. Syndicate Bank had opened additional 22 counters in the city.”

Awareness

Dr Vijayaprakash said the MCC has taken series of steps to create an awareness among people to pay SAS on time. Banners, pamphlets, TV scroll, even in theatres, the scroll was carried out urging the citizens to pay the tax.

The MCC even used mobile vehicles to make announcements to remind the people of the region to pay tax. Even the medium of radio including FMs were used to remind the citizens to pay SAS. “I myself took part in a phone-in-programme in a local channel and appealed the citizens to pay tax,” he informed.

He said “the MCC had even put up shamiana outside the MCC building to help the citizens to fill the application forms.

Volunteers

About 150 volunteers were trained in filling the application by the MCC.
In many places, bill collectors had organised interactions with the citizens and explained them the need to pay SAS. Moreover, the counters were kept open from 8 am to 8 pm, to help the people to pay SAS even after the office hours.” 

According to the revised rates, the tax for residential buildings was 0.5 per cent of capital value instead of 0.6 per cent, and the levy on commercial buildings will be 1.5 per cent of capital value instead of 2 per cent. The rate for the third category of property has been reduced by 50 per cent. The rate of tax for non-residential/non-commercial buildings has been fixed at 1 per cent of capital value. Earlier, this category had been classified as commercial/non-residential buildings and levied a tax of 2 per cent. The tax for vacant sites measuring up to 1,000 sq m is 0.1 per cent; between 1,000 sq m and 4,000 sq m, 0.025 per cent; and those above 4,000 sq m, 0.01 per cent.