BBMP is likely to initiate the process of auctioning properties whose tax dues haven’t been cleared.
Defaulters, especially those owning non-residential properties, who fail to clear dues even though One Time Settlement (OTS) scheme was introduced nine months ago, are certain to face the music, civic officials said. The scheme, which ends Saturday, offered defaulters rebates on interest and penalties.
Of the nearly 4 lakh properties which had tax dues running up to Rs 734 crore, owners of 2.3 lakh properties were yet to pay over Rs 365 crore as on Nov 23, according to BBMP data.BBMP special commissioner (revenue) Munish Moudgil confirmed to TOI that the Palike will begin auctioning properties of defaulters from Dec. The BBMP Act 2020 and BBMP (Property Tax Assessment, Recovery and Management) Rules, 2024 provide for sale of movable or immovable properties for recovery of property tax, penalties, interest, cess and other dues.
According to BBMP sources, there are nearly 20,000 non-residential property owners with pending tax dues, totalling nearly Rs 150 crore.
The Palike will start issuing notices to defaulters starting Dec 2, and after following due procedures, it will sell properties in public auction. Officials confirmed this auction will be restricted to properties that do not have a stay from courts.
Revenue officials said over two lakh people have failed to clear dues even when they had more than nine months to do so. BBMP doesn’t expect any miracle in recoveries on the last day (Saturday), though property owners will get one last chance to pay their dues till midnight.
BBMP has collected over Rs 221 crore in revenue from 60,681 properties that were out of the tax net or unassessed. The Palike estimates there are around 5 lakh properties in Bengaluru without a khata and are not paying property tax.
Property owners without a khata can submit online application and a provisional tax number will be given to them. The owners can then pay property tax using that unique tax number.
