GHAZIABAD: Responding to protests regarding property tax after a recent ruling from the Allahabad High Court, the Ghaziabad Municipal Corporation (GMC) has introduced a series of rebates to alleviate the burden on its residents.
During a board meeting on Saturday, GMC members approved a 10% property tax rebate for housing societies, institutions, and residents who segregate their waste at the source. This decision aligns with the implementation of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026, effective from April 1.
Municipal commissioner Vikramaditya Malik Singh stated that the civic body currently offers a 20% rebate for timely tax payments. Furthermore, additional rebates are provided based on building age: 25% for properties less than 10 years old, 32.5% for those between 10 and 20 years, and 40% for buildings older than 25 years. Taxpayers can also enjoy an extra 2% rebate for making online payments. “When we total all the rebates, they range from 77% to 92%,” Singh remarked. “The board has reviewed the proposal, and we believe there should be no further protests.”
Mayor Sunita Dayal added, “The rebate proposal has been well received and approved by the board. It will remain in effect until the board decides otherwise, and we will relay this decision to the state government.”
On February 25, a division bench of Chief Justice Arun Bhansali and Justice Kshitij Shailendra dismissed a petition from three former GMC councillors, affirming that the corporation’s method for setting minimum monthly rent rates and adjusting property tax in line with DM circle rates was legally valid.
Since April 1 last year, the GMC has implemented a new property tax structure that has seen rates increase by three to four times. Under this revised system, the rates rose from Re 0.7 to Rs 4 per square foot, leading to an annual tax increase of Rs 5,000 for property owners.
Former GMC councillor Rajendra Tyagi, one of the petitioners, expressed concerns: “It seems that the GMC officials are offering a temporary fix to quell the protests without providing a clear plan for implementation. Furthermore, despite the rebates, tax rates remain excessive. For instance, in Raj Nagar Extension, the property rate was Rs 1.45/sq foot before April 1, 2025, and after the hike, it jumped to Rs 4/sq foot. Even with a 50% reduction, it still exceeds previous rates. We are monitoring the situation and may consider challenging this decision in the Supreme Court.”
The GMC calculates property taxes based on the annual rental value and currently serves over 600,000 taxpayers. With the hike in taxes, the corporation anticipates an additional revenue influx of over Rs 120 crore. In FY 2025-26, GMC reported property tax revenue of Rs 375 crore, with a target of Rs 450 crore set for FY 2026-27.
