Mumbai: BMC Inspectors Tasked with Collecting Property Tax Receipts Amidst Public Confusion and Employee Unrest

Mumbai, 4th January 2024: In a move to meet the property tax collection target, inspectors from the assessment and collection department of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) have been directed to track down property tax defaulters and retrieve receipts for the financial year 2023-24. This directive has sparked a wave of anger among the observer class, leading to confusion among taxpayers and potential unrest among BMC employees.

Following the discontinuation of the Zakat tax, the BMC turned to property tax as a primary revenue source, setting a target of Rs 4,000 crore for the current financial year (2023-24). However, only Rs 641 crore has been collected so far, prompting a push for increased property tax collection.

Property tax payments for the year 2023-24 were distributed electronically to inspectors, who were then tasked with delivering 100 copies of large amounts of property tax payments to the respective taxpayers’ homes. The confusion arose when some taxpayers received increased property tax notices, leading to uncertainty and controversy. Despite this confusion, some taxpayers made additional property tax payments, further complicating the situation.

In response to the confusion, the BMC organized an urgent meeting through the television system within the assessment and collection department. A decree was issued during this meeting, instructing inspectors to collect property tax receipts from taxpayers who made home delivery property tax payments. Inspectors, already racing against time to achieve the property tax collection target by March, are now required to visit the homes of taxpayers to collect property tax receipts, leading to discontent among the department’s workforce.

The move has not only sparked anger among inspectors but has also prompted employee unions within BMC to consider taking an aggressive stance. Meanwhile, senior officials from the municipal corporation, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated that inspectors have been instructed to gather information about the number of taxpayers who paid cash for property tax and the corresponding amounts.