MCC’s GPS-based property survey to improve tax income soon

MCC’s GPS-based property survey to improve tax income soon

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, July 27, 2016: According to information available, a planned bid to rope in more properties under the tax net to mobilise further resource, the MCC, Mangaluru City Corporation has decided to launch a GPS, global positioning system based survey is to be put in place soon.

 Mangaluru city, spread over 135 square km, has a total of 1.97 lakh properties, irrespective of residential, commercial, industries, among others, generating a revenue of Rs 47.47 crore in the form of property tax during the previous fiscal (2015-16).

The proposed GPS survey is intended to cover not less than 2.25 lakh properties, including government properties and sites.  MCC Commissioner Mohammed Nazeer told media, "GPS survey is mainly aimed at identifying and documenting the existing properties in the city. The existing data is quite old and has been updated as and when required. With the help of technology, it is planned to create a more accurate data now."

The government properties will also be studied during the survey, as under some clause they enjoy tax exemption, along with educational institutions. The Corporation wants to create a database of such tax-exempted properties too. The EOI, expression of interest has been invited and three service providers have come forward. A suitable decision will be taken later, said Nazeer.

Inquiry with the authorities concerned, indicates that in the existing scenario, some of the property owners are duly paying the tax under the self-assessment scheme that was introduced in 2008, there may be cases of altered structures, but not on record. While, some evade paying taxes for some other reasons. To ensure that nothing goes haywire, the city corporation has decided to prepare the actual data and hence, the survey.

On the other hand, the city corporation has failed to reach the target in the collection of property tax, from the last several years. During 2014-15, Rs 41.46 crore was collected against the demand of Rs 51.71 crore. Prior to that, during 2013-14, Rs 34.41 crore was collected against Rs 42.88 crore. In the preceding year, Rs 35.71 crore was collected against Rs 40.99 crore.

Vacant posts : It is reasoned that lack of adequate staff at the field-level is a major hurdle in meeting the target.

According to the new cadre and recruitment (C&R) rule, the MCC has been sanctioned with 45 bill collectors’ posts while 14 are on job, followed by nine against the required 12 revenue inspectors.  Among the nine RIs on job, one was recently promoted from bill collector, while two senior RIs hold additional charge. While, three each of the posts of assistant revenue officers (AROs) and revenue officers (ROs) are filled. Yet again, one among the revenue officers holds additional charge as deputy commissioner (revenue), following the transfer of the officer who was holding the office earlier.