The Coimbatore Corporation has equalled last year’s tax collection. The equalisation came about on Friday, a holiday, when the collection touched 87 per cent.
According to Commissioner G. Latha and Deputy Commissioner S. Sivarasu, the civic body equalling last year’s collection with two days left for the end of the current financial year spoke of the efforts it had taken to ensure tax compliance.
Mr. Sivarasu says that by March 31 (Sunday), the civic body will have surpassed last year’s tax collection. The Corporation had announced that it would keep open its 32 tax collection centres in the city to enable the assessees pay tax even during holidays.
It had also enabled online payment of tax using credit/debit cards and through net banking. It had also tied-up with banks to enable the assessees pay tax through bank branches. Mr. Sivarasu says that by way of tie-up with banks, the Corporation had received Rs. 3.40 crore in tax. And through net banking another Rs. 1.50 crore. He points out that the Corporation achieving the last year’s collection is not withstanding the fact that there has been an eight per cent increase in the demand. Last year’s total property tax demand was Rs. 95.18 crore. This year it is Rs. 103.63 crore.
Similarly, there has been an increase in collection for the current term as well. The increase is nearly eight per cent. Last year the total tax collection for the then current term was Rs. 82.68 crore. This year it is Rs. 89.25 crore.
And, as in last year, the Corporation asked the residents to pay the tax for the current term and also clear the dues. It also warned that it will sever the water connection and underground drainage connection for those who fail to pay the tax.
There is a cause for joy for the civic body because the property tax arrears has come down. Last year the collection stood at 52 per cent for Rs. 38.78 crore. And this year it stands at 44 per cent for Rs. 32.84 crore. As the percentage goes up, the arrear is bound to come down, he adds.
