GHMC launches property tax amnesty scheme from April
HYDERABAD: Residents of Greater Hyderabad are set to get relief with the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) deciding to roll out its first-ever Property Tax Amnesty Scheme to bring more buildings into the tax net.
No penalties or notices under amnesty
Under the scheme, owners of additional floors and newly constructed buildings that are currently outside the property tax ambit can pay tax without facing notices, penalties or enforcement action. The facility will be available through a self-assessment application.
OTS ends on March 31
At present, the One Time Settlement (OTS) scheme is in force, offering a 90% waiver on interest for clearing long-pending property tax dues. The OTS window will close on March 31. Officials plan to introduce the amnesty scheme immediately after.
First such scheme in the city
Hyderabad has both authorised and unauthorised constructions, and property tax is being collected on many of them. However, this will be the first time GHMC is implementing a dedicated Property Tax Amnesty Scheme.
Benefits for taxpayers
Property owners can clear dues for the past two-and-a-half years without paying penalties or interest. Normally, when GHMC detects violations, it issues notices and may take legal action, including seizure of movable property or sealing of buildings. The amnesty scheme allows owners to regularise their properties voluntarily without facing such measures.
Officials said the scheme also offers a final opportunity to property owners who have avoided paying tax in the past to correct records and relieve themselves of complaints and legal risks. A similar scheme was implemented by the Delhi municipal corporation last year.
GIS survey revealed large-scale underreporting
GHMC officials said nearly 50% of property owners had been paying tax only for part of their actual built-up area by concealing additional construction. A Geographic Information System (GIS) survey revealed several such cases.
Before issuing notices and initiating legal proceedings against these owners, the GHMC commissioner decided to offer a one-time opportunity through the amnesty scheme to bring uncovered built-up areas into official records voluntarily.
Online application process
The self-assessment application will be available on the GHMC website and at Mee Seva centres. Using the Property Tax Identification Number (PTIN), owners can update actual building details in tax records.
Officials said discussions are underway to allow corrections using registered mobile numbers as well. The scheme and application process will be formally announced in the first week of April, GHMC officials added.
