HUBBALLI
The Hubballi Dharwad Municipal Corporation has extended its five percent property tax rebate until the end of May after tax collection failed to reach expected levels during the earlier deadline period.
Officials said the move aims to encourage more property owners to clear pending taxes for the financial year two thousand twenty six to twenty seven.
The corporation had originally announced the rebate only until the end of April but later decided to continue the benefit throughout May to improve revenue collection.
According to official figures the corporation collected around one hundred point eight one crore rupees during the year two thousand twenty three to twenty four against a target of one hundred thirty eight crore rupees.
In the financial year two thousand twenty four to twenty five tax collection increased to nearly one hundred eighty eight crore rupees while the target was around two hundred one crore rupees.
For the current financial year the municipal corporation has fixed a target of nearly two hundred thirty five crore rupees but has collected only around eighty seven crore rupees so far.
Municipal Commissioner Dr. Rudresh Ghali said the extension was approved following government directions and discussions in the corporation’s general meeting.
He appealed to residents to make use of the rebate period and pay taxes without delay to avoid penalties in future.
The corporation is also planning strict action against unauthorised buildings and constructions that have escaped the tax system for several years.
Officials said many owners have built multi storey buildings without properly paying taxes and these properties will now be identified through GIS based surveys.
Additional penalties along with pending tax amounts may be imposed on violators once the survey work is completed.
Dr. Ghali said GIS related work is expected to finish by July or August and more properties will come under the tax network afterward.
He expressed confidence that tax collection would improve significantly once hidden and unregistered properties are identified across the city.
Civic officials believe the continued rebate combined with strict enforcement measures and technology based surveys will help the corporation achieve better revenue collection and strengthen development works across Hubballi Dharwad in the coming months for overall public benefit and city infrastructure growth effectively and sustainably.
