NOIDA: As the current financial year approaches its end, consumers are facing confusion regarding property tax obligations.
Mayor Sunita Dayal claims the recent property tax hike has been reversed, while officials from the GMC assert that no such decision has been made. The mayor’s office insists that property taxes will return to their pre-April 1, 2025 levels.
Meanwhile, consumers who have not settled their taxes are worried about facing a 12% penalty on their outstanding property tax dues after March 31.
Raj Shekhar, a resident of Kavinagar, expressed frustration, stating, “This issue has been ongoing for a year. The mayor and GMC officials are contradicting each other, leading to widespread confusion. With the financial year ending, our main concern is whether to pay taxes according to the new structure or not. If we hold off, we risk incurring a 12% penalty. Should we trust the mayor’s reassurances to avoid paying the increased rate?”
Asim Arun, a minister in the Yogi Adityanath government and in charge of Ghaziabad, informed TOI, “On Tuesday, I was in Ghaziabad discussing this matter with elected representatives and GMC officials. After the Allahabad High Court’s ruling on property taxes, the government is evaluating its options. I conveyed this matter to the Chief Minister, and a decision will be made soon.”
In February, a two-judge bench, including Chief Justice Arun Bhansali and Kshitij Shailendra, dismissed a petition from former GMC councillors opposing the property tax increase.
“We aim to incorporate more properties into the tax system. However, urban development is also crucial, and it depends on revenue from property taxes and other sources. We want to assure the public that we will structure taxes to minimize the burden on citizens,” stated the Minister of State for Social Welfare and SC/ST Welfare.
Despite these assurances, residents remain skeptical.
“Why is the government stalling? They need to clarify their position,” said IN Jha, a resident of Gaur Sidhartham.
A senior GMC official remarked, “The decision to raise property taxes was taken by the GMC board in consultation with the state government, and there have been no updates on this matter since the High Court’s ruling, which should clear any confusion among residents.”
Addressing concerns about the financial impact on citizens, the GMC official highlighted various rebates already provided, which aim to lower rates: a 10% rebate for housing societies and institutions adhering to waste segregation; a 20% rebate for timely payments by taxpayers; a 25% rebate for buildings under 10 years old; a 32.5% rebate for those between 10 and 20 years old; a 40% rebate for buildings older than 25 years; and a 2% rebate for online payment methods. Notably, property tax is now calculated based on carpet area rather than covered area, with total rebates ranging from 77% to 92%.
