The Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) has launched a scheme that offers a 90% reduction on the penalty amount for property tax defaulters, aiming to clear outstanding tax receipts. This announcement was made recently by Thane mayor Sharmila Pimplolkar, following requests from officials.
According to them, “The administration consulted with Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Municipal Commissioner Saurabh Rao, and as a result, the announcement was made to alleviate the penalty burden on defaulters.” “Under this initiative, residential property owners who settle their outstanding tax will only need to pay 10% of the penalty amount, while the remaining 90% will be waived. Currently, the corporation is facing Rs 308 crore in tax arrears, with Rs 191 crore anticipated to be recovered as penalties.
However, with the 90% waiver, we could potentially lose around Rs 172 crore in total, assuming all defaulters take advantage of this scheme and pay their dues,” an official explained. It is noteworthy that the recovery target for property tax for the fiscal year 2026-26 is set at Rs 840 crore, of which Rs 670 crore has already been collected.
An official stated that the corporation is confronting a significant deficit due to tax defaults and, with the fiscal year nearing its end, it aims to maximize its recovery. Property tax payments can be made at all ward-level collection centers from 10:30 AM to 5 PM on weekdays, and from 10:30 AM to 4 PM on weekends and public holidays.
Online payments are also available through the TMC website and various UPI applications. To facilitate payments, the TMC has introduced a WhatsApp and chatbot system. Meanwhile, vigilant residents have expressed that this provision is unfair to those who pay their bills punctually.
