GHMC collects record Rs.1,320 cr property tax

For Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), which has a host of projects lined up for the city, the financial year closed on Saturday midnight with a record collection of Rs.1,320 crore towards property tax.

The property tax collection for the financial year 2017-18, though falling little short of the civic body target of Rs.1,400 crore, happens to be nearly Rs.115 core more than the last financial year. And the collections were scaled up this time without serving notices to property owners or running special campaigns, the officials said.

Several government departments such as BSNL and others, which have dues piled up for long, have cleared their arrears. Interestingly, among many modes of tax payment, online tax payment has increased 

The Mayor, B.Rammohan, and GHMC Commissioner B.Janardhan Reddy complimented the officials for their efforts in increasing tax



collection.Officials attribute the record collections to constant monitoring and facilitating more provisions for property owners in making the payment. As March 31 was the last day for payment of property taxes, the municipal corporation had made elaborate arrangements for the convenience of structure owners to pay taxes at all the municipal circle offices, citizen service centres and other places. 

Counters were operated till late in the night to facilitate tax payment.

In tune with property tax collections, the trade licences and advertisement fee collections too have also increased considerably this time.

During the 2016-17 financial year, the trade licence collection was about Rs.42 crore and in 2017-18 financial year, the same rose to Rs.52 crore. Similarly, the advertisement fee collection rose to Rs.38.44 this year, against Rs.26.19 crore collections last time.