BBMP withdraws 8,000 out of 34,000 property tax demand notices

The civic body made the decision after finding that the revised tax demands for these properties were within 5% of the originally declared value — the permissible cushion under the Act.

Bengaluru: Days after shocking citizens by issuing property tax notices, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has withdrawn 8,000 of them, admitting an error on its part.

The civic body made the decision after finding that the revised tax demands for these properties were within 5 per cent of the originally declared value — the permissible cushion under the Act.

Officials said that the BBMP had issued 34,000 property tax demand notices in the recent days. “We have not withdrawn about 26,000 demand notices, as the difference in dues exceeds 5 per cent,” said Munish Moudgil, Special Commissioner (Revenue), BBMP. 

These 34,000 were the first among 5.5 lakh property owners to receive notices shortly after being issued e-khata certificates. The BBMP reviewed sale deeds submitted by owners to identify under-declaration in its records. Most properties involved are either vacant plots or flats.

On Friday, the BBMP emailed about 8,000 property owners informing them that their showcause notices had been withdrawn.

“Upon re-verification of the property details and tax assessment, it has been determined that the variation in the revised property tax demand is less than 5 per cent of the originally declared value. Accordingly, the showcause notice is hereby withdrawn. No further action is required from your end at this stage,” the email stated.

The Bengaluru NavaNirmana Party (BNP) believes the remaining 26,000 notices are also “erroneous”.

Party founder Srikanth Narasimhan said the notices were based on a flawed calculation of super built-up area. “The super built-up area already covers common areas and parking spaces on which citizens have been paying tax. The BBMP is now adding the parking area again to the super built-up area, which is blatantly wrong,” he said.

Binesh Nair, a resident of HSR Layout, was among those who received a notice alleging under-declaration. “I got my e-khata after months of following the BBMP’s process, paid every rupee of tax honestly, and now I am told I have underpaid — which is not true. This is deeply stressful,” he said.