GURGAON: Weeks past the deadline now, the property tax revision scheme – being prepared by a special committee constituted by the state government – is yet to be implemented. According to officials of the Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon, there haven’t yet been any updates from the authorities on this matter, and no clarity on whether a timeline is going to be followed at all.

“We haven’t received any directions from the head office,” said a senior MCG official. It was earlier reported by MCG representatives that the final word on property tax calculation “would be out by the first week of August” as the issue had become a contentious one for house owners throughout the state.

It was around a couple of months ago that the authorities finally acknowledged, after years of protestations and complaints sent in by the residents, that the formula for calculating the municipal tax on land in Gurgaon and other parts of the state needed simplifying.

The case was handed over to a three-member committee put together by the state’s public works (buildings and roads) minister, Randeep Singh Surjewala. The team was given the job of surveying the different areas, communicating with the residents, and finally ‘rationalizing’ the tax calculation matrix for the convenience of tax payers.

MCG joint commissioner Anju Chaudhary confirmed that there was still no word from the government’s side on this front. “This has to be done at the government’s level. I can’t speculate on how long the process will take,” she said.

Chaudhary also said that a part of the job for property tax revision is done, and that only the state’s approval is now pending. “The committee has re-examined the issue and has submitted its report to the state government,” she said, adding that she was certain that the “matter will be dealt with soon”.

In Gurgaon, plots that measure up to 250 square yards are charged a property tax of Re 1 per square yard by the municipal body. Taxes of larger plots are determined by the respective circle rates valid in the area. According to reports, last year more than 50,000 complaints were received by the state government over erroneous property tax amounts that the residents were being charged.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/gurgaon/2-months-after-annoucement-govt-yet-to-revise-house-tax/articleshow/22106343.cms