KMC extends deadline for tax payment

Announcing the extension of the date on Wednesday, Mayor Sovan Chatterjee said that inspectors from the civic body's assessment department will go door-to-door from April 1, hand out forms of UAA and will guide them on how to pay tax through the same.

The indication for extending the deadline was evident when Chatterjee spoke to reporters after presenting the civic budget earlier this month. "An unnecessary scare about the new property tax calculation method has kept assessees from embracing the new UAA method. We need to put an end to this irrational fear," the Mayor had said.

Sources in the assessment department said civic authorities has set a fresh target of Rs 998 crore in property tax for the next fiscal, beginning April 1. Though KMC had introduced UAA last April, response has been lukewarm with only 50,000 of the 2.75 lakh assessees opting for it and submitting the application.

"After handing over of forms to households, if they forget to submit it, the inspectors will knock once again a week later to collect the filled up forms. If someone fails to submit it, KMC will assess the property on its own and send the tax bill based on UAA," a senior assessment official said.

KMC assessment department officials have already decided not to issue mutation certificates to owners of newly constructed apartments or houses, unless they go for UAA. "We are asking applicants to first fill up self assessment forms under UAA. Only then will they be eligible," the official added.