2,000+ property tax defaulters under the scrutiny of the Chandigarh civic government 

CHANDIGARH: The municipal corporation (MC) is prepared to begin attachment procedures against the top 2,000 owners of commercial and residential real estate who have not paid their property taxes, following many demand notices.

The majority of defaulters have not deposited their dues within the allotted time frame. In accordance with Municipal Act Section 138, the city council may begin attachment procedures. According to the amount owed, we have identified 2,000 defaulters, and we will take action against them first, an official stated.

According to Section 138 of the Municipal Act, the MC may attach and sell a defaulter’s real estate in order to recoup any unpaid balance owed on the amount of taxes owed, together with recovery expenses.

The majority of the outstanding balances have been accumulated during the previous few years. To get them back, the MC has been acting strictly. A top official stated that there are over Rs 150 crore in outstanding property dues, of which approximately Rs 8 crore are from residential properties alone.

The MC had issued attachment orders for 339 premises in the previous fiscal year. Additionally, after the dues were deposited, the MC de-sealed 13 properties and sealed 17 others.

The civic organization had previously given a 20% refund if taxes were paid between April 1 and May 31.

An assessee was subject to a 25% penalty after the rebate period ended, in addition to interest charged at a rate of 12% annually on the unpaid tax balance between the day the tax bill was issued and the date it was actually paid.

“Demand notices were delivered and property owners were given several chances to pay their dues for both the current and prior financial years after the rebate period ended. However, since so many people disregarded the instructions, the MC is now forced to begin the attachment procedures, the official stated.