IndustryLatest Stories

Finance Panel Urges Karnataka to Allow Monthly Property Tax EMIs

BENGALURU: The 5th State Finance Commission has put forth a proposal for property tax payments to be made in installments (EMIs) alongside the introduction of amnesty and incentives to motivate property owners to settle outstanding tax dues. The commission’s report, presented in the legislative assembly on Wednesday, dedicates a chapter to reforming property tax to enhance collection efficiency within the city. These recommendations arrive as government officials have initiated drone surveys of properties in the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) to identify tax defaulters. Estimates suggest that dues across GBA’s five corporations reach into the lakhs. Bengaluru is home to 20.5…

Latest StoriesRegulatory

Bengaluru issues final warning to 1,010 property tax defaulters

BENGALURU: The Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) has issued a final warning to property owners who are overdue on their property taxes, with a total of Rs 33.9 crore pending from 1,010 property owners across the five city corporations. Special Commissioner (Revenue) Munish Moudgil stated that Rs 14.3 crore is owed by 510 significant defaulters, while Rs 19.6 crore is awaiting resolution in 500 property tax reassessment cases. “Zonal joint commissioners have been directed to accelerate the recovery from major defaulters and those in reassessment. The list of the top 50 defaulters and reassessment cases for each municipal corporation is now…

IndustryLatest Stories

Defaulters Pay ₹27 Lakh in Property Tax Before Bengaluru Auction

BENGALURU: Following the announcement of an auction for defaulters’ properties by the Greater Bengaluru Authority’s South city corporation, approximately 14 property owners in Bommanahalli hastily settled their long-standing dues, leading to a recovery of over ₹27 lakh. The impending threat of public auction seems to be motivating defaulters to pay off their arrears prior to bidding on their properties. This comes on the heels of seven properties being successfully sold in a recent auction held by the East and North city corporations. All five city corporations are moving forward with auctions targeting top tax defaulters as a final attempt to…

Latest StoriesRegulatory

Bengaluru Authority Auctions 7 Properties Over ₹437 Crore Tax Dues

BENGALURU: If you haven’t settled your property tax dues with the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA), be cautious—you might lose your unit in a public auction. In a significant move against defaulters, GBA auctioned off seven properties within the East and North City Corporation limits on Saturday to recover longstanding tax arrears. Despite numerous notices and recovery efforts by the former BBMP and the five new corporations under GBA, many property owners still fail to make tax payments. With tax dues reaching ₹437 crore across nearly 7,000 units in the city, authorities have decided to resort to property auctions as a…

Latest StoriesRegulatory

Bengaluru conducts door-to-door survey for tax dodgers

BENGALURU: The Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) has initiated a door-to-door survey aimed at identifying property owners who are evading taxes by submitting false or inaccurate information. Notices have already been distributed to those found in violation. The city has approximately 2.2 million properties subject to property tax, where owners typically pay under a self-assessment scheme. However, many have misreported property details, leading to significant tax evasion, prompting the GBA to conduct a comprehensive field survey to verify all properties. Survey Drive A GBA representative stated, "This survey encompasses the five municipal corporations within Greater Bengaluru, spanning 369 wards. Each ward…

Latest StoriesResidential

Bengaluru: 85% Flat Owners Approved in E-Khata Drive, 4K Appeals

BENGALURU: Out of 140,000 e-khata applications submitted by flat owners in the city, approximately 120,000 were approved without objections, as their tax records and sale deeds were verified as accurate, based on data from the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) obtained by TOI. However, around 20,000 flats were identified with discrepancies, yet only 4,000 owners have lodged appeals to date. Authorities stress the importance of not generalizing individual cases, highlighting that 85% of flat owners have adhered to the regulations. A senior revenue official remarked, “Some residents have acknowledged their mistakes and are ready to pay the adjusted amounts; we are…

InfrastructureLatest Stories

Bengaluru Authority to Launch in September

BENGALURU: The state government is finalizing preparations to launch the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) on September 2. This new entity will replace the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) with five municipal corporations. Draft orders for the new corporations have already been issued, objections have been considered, and a final notification is expected soon. The historic BBMP headquarters, which has housed the city’s administration since 1947, is being renovated to serve as the Chief Minister’s office in his role as Chairperson of the GBA. The Bengaluru Urban Development Minister, acting as Deputy Chairperson, will work from the upgraded Deputy Mayor’s office.…

IndustryLatest Stories

Bengaluru: E-Khata Error Leaves Owner with Massive Tax Bill

BENGALURU: The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) launched e-khata services at BangaloreOne centers across the city on November 11, 2024. The launch was announced by BBMP Chief Commissioner Tushar Girinath following a week-long training for the BangaloreOne staff. This initiative aims to alleviate the challenges faced by property owners and protect them from exploitation by private cyber centers, which often charge up to ₹5,000 for e-khata-related services that are now available at government centers for regulated fees. If the experience of a flat owner is any indication, property owners must be vigilant and verify their property details before uploading relevant…