Taxpayers queue up at a Citizen Facilitation Centre in Yamunanagar on the final day of the 75% property tax interest waiver scheme.
More than ₹1 crore collected on the final day; municipal corporation warns of full interest recovery from September 1 and action against major defaulters
PEN OF DEMOCRACY NEWS DESK YAMUNANAGAR
The final day of the Haryana government’s 75% interest waiver scheme on property tax witnessed a heavy rush of taxpayers at all three municipal corporation offices in Yamunanagar, as property owners made last-minute efforts to take advantage of the relief before the deadline expired on Monday. Long queues were seen at the Citizen Facilitation Centres (CFCs) from the morning, with taxpayers arriving to clear their outstanding dues under the special waiver scheme.
The municipal corporation had kept its offices open during the weekend to facilitate taxpayers who wanted to make use of the concession. The CFCs at the three municipal corporation offices remained operational on Saturday and Sunday despite the holidays. According to the municipal administration, property tax collections from the three offices amounted to ₹12,90,857 on Saturday and ₹5,72,984 on Sunday.
The final day saw hundreds of property owners turning up to deposit their outstanding property tax. The rush at the CFCs resulted in substantial revenue collection for the municipal corporation, with more than ₹1 crore in property tax deposited into the corporation’s account on the final day, according to the administration.
With the deadline now over, the municipal corporation has made it clear that no further interest concession will be available from September 1. Property owners with outstanding dues will thereafter be required to pay their property tax along with the applicable interest.
The corporation has also adopted a strict approach towards major defaulters. Property owners whose outstanding property tax exceeds ₹1 lakh have been issued notices. Officials said that after the notice period expires, the corporation will initiate proceedings to seal properties belonging to major defaulters who fail to clear their dues.
Mayor Suman Bahmani said the Haryana government had introduced a special relief scheme to encourage property owners to clear their accumulated dues. Under the scheme, taxpayers depositing their outstanding property tax in a lump sum between June 1 and June 30 were eligible for a 100% waiver on interest, while those making lump-sum payments between July 1 and August 31 were eligible for a 75% waiver on interest.
The scheme covered interest applicable to outstanding property tax for the period from 2010-11 to 2024-25, providing taxpayers with an opportunity to settle their long-pending dues at a substantially reduced cost.
Mayor Suman Bahmani said the response during the waiver period had been encouraging. Between June 1 and June 30, when the 100% interest waiver was available, the municipal corporation collected ₹16,40,60,961 in property tax. In addition, ₹1,25,44,187 was collected as fire tax during the same period.
She said more than ₹2 crore in property tax was collected during the July-August period under the 75% interest waiver scheme. The decision to keep the corporation offices open on Saturday and Sunday was taken to ensure that taxpayers were not deprived of the opportunity because of the weekend holidays.
The municipal corporation had also made arrangements at its CFCs to facilitate taxpayers and reduce inconvenience. On the final day, property owners began arriving at the corporation offices in Jagadhri, Kanhaiya Sahib Chowk and Shaheed Bhagat Singh Chowk early in the morning.
As soon as the Citizen Facilitation Centres opened, long queues formed for tokens. After obtaining their tokens, taxpayers proceeded to the designated counters and deposited their property tax. The CFCs remained busy throughout the day, with a large number of people seeking to complete their payments before the concession expired.
Tax collection through the offices continued until 4 pm, while property owners were able to deposit their property tax online until midnight on August 31. The extended arrangements were aimed at accommodating the large number of taxpayers who waited until the final day to settle their dues.
The heavy rush reflected the importance of the interest waiver for property owners with accumulated tax liabilities. For many taxpayers, the concession provided an opportunity to clear long-pending dues while reducing the financial burden created by accumulated interest.
Municipal Corporation Commissioner Mahabir Prasad said the corporation had made repeated efforts to inform property owners about the government’s interest waiver schemes and encourage them to clear their outstanding property tax within the prescribed period.
He said the government had provided relief to taxpayers twice during the year and the corporation had also undertaken awareness efforts so that eligible property owners could take advantage of the concessions.
However, with the deadline having expired, the commissioner said there would be no further concession from September 1. Property owners who still have outstanding dues will now have to pay the tax along with the applicable interest.
The commissioner warned major defaulters that the corporation would take strict action against those who continue to avoid payment. According to the municipal administration, notices have already been issued to property owners whose outstanding dues are more than ₹1 lakh.
After the expiry of the notice period, the corporation will move towards sealing the properties of eligible defaulters in accordance with the applicable rules. The move is intended to strengthen tax recovery and ensure that major outstanding liabilities are not allowed to remain pending indefinitely.
The municipal corporation has emphasised that property tax is an important source of revenue for providing civic services and undertaking development works in the city. Timely payment by property owners enables the civic body to strengthen its financial resources and support public infrastructure and essential municipal services.
Officials have therefore advised property owners who have not yet cleared their dues to avoid further delay. With the interest waiver scheme having ended, outstanding taxpayers will now face the regular tax liability along with applicable interest.
The corporation’s decision to keep the CFCs open during the weekend and extend payment facilities until the final day was aimed at maximising participation in the government’s relief scheme. The substantial collection recorded during the final phase indicates that a large number of taxpayers used the opportunity to settle their liabilities.
The corporation has also sought to make it clear that the end of the waiver period marks a shift from a relief-oriented approach to stricter recovery measures. While taxpayers were given an extended opportunity to clear their dues with a substantial interest concession, the municipal administration will now focus on recovering outstanding amounts from those who have failed to make payment.
For property owners, the expiry of the scheme means that waiting for another concession may result in additional financial liability. From September 1, property tax dues will be recovered with applicable interest, while major defaulters may face enforcement action, including sealing proceedings after the prescribed notice period.
Mayor Suman Bahmani appealed to citizens to fulfil their tax obligations and support the municipal corporation’s efforts to improve civic services. She said timely payment of property tax was important not only for individual taxpayers but also for the overall development of the city.
Commissioner Mahabir Prasad reiterated that the corporation would continue monitoring outstanding accounts and taking action in accordance with the rules. He said major defaulters would not be given indefinite extensions and that the corporation would proceed with enforcement measures after completing the required legal and administrative process.
The final day of the 75% interest waiver scheme therefore ended with a significant rush at the three municipal corporation offices, substantial tax collection and a clear warning for those who continue to have large outstanding dues. With the concession now over, the municipal administration has moved towards stricter recovery, including possible property sealing proceedings against major defaulters.
The corporation has urged property owners to clear their outstanding property tax at the earliest and avoid additional financial burden arising from interest and enforcement action.
Mayor Suman Bahmani said the response during the waiver period had been encouraging. Between June 1 and June 30, when the 100% interest waiver was available, the municipal corporation collected ₹16,40,60,961 in property tax. In addition, ₹1,25,44,187 was collected as fire tax during the same period.
Municipal Corporation Commissioner Mahabir Prasad said the corporation had made repeated efforts to inform property owners about the government’s interest waiver schemes and encourage them to clear their outstanding property tax within the prescribed period.
The municipal corporation has emphasised that property tax is an important source of revenue for providing civic services and undertaking development works in the city. Timely payment by property owners enables the civic body to strengthen its financial resources and support public infrastructure and essential municipal services.
