TDP demands property tax penalty waiver

Hyderabad: The TDP has demanded that the GHMC exercise its option of ‘property tax penalty waiver’ to encourage the people pay their dues within this financial year, towards filling its coffers at the earliest.In a letter submitted to GHMC Commissioner M Dana Kishore, TDP Greater Hyderabad minority wing vice-president Mohammed Ahmed and social worker Aleemuddin Sharfi noted that in the past property owners used to be exempted from payment of penalty.

As a result, crores of rupees could be collected due to active response from the public. But for the last few years, the provision is not being extended for the tax payers and even this year it has not been announced so far. “Therefore we request you to exempt property owners from payment of penalty. So that the property owner can come forward and the GHMC collect crores of money within short time,” the added.

In 2016, the last time the waiver was provided, the State government waived off Rs 532.57 crores in the form of penalties on property tax dues in the GHMC limits. The waiver helped more than 6 lakh tax payers. However, the next year it announced that there would be no penalty waiver.