BBMP’s property tax extortion: Ruling BJP too faces Rs 22.59 lakh demand!
BJP leaders’ meeting with CM on BBMP’s arbitrary property tax demand could be a lifeline for 78,524 hassled Bengalurean property owners
BENGALURU:
BBMP’s alacrity in issuing demand notices for recovery of property tax ‘arrears’ to thousands of honest Bengalureans for no fault of theirs has even stung the ruling BJP in Karnataka! The party office has received a demand notice for a whopping Rs 22.59 lakh, comprising difference property tax ‘arrears’ and penalty (excluding interest at 2% per month for four years).
The notice copy, dated February 23, 2021 and available with TheBengaluruLive, claims that the amount of Rs 22.59 lakh is calculated from 2016.
The BJP state office is situated on 1st Main Road, Malleswaram (property number 48). It was constructed in 2009 and has a declared built-up area of 24,069 square feet and 1,955 square feet of car parking area.
As per the self-assessment scheme of 2008, which was valid till 2016, the BJP paid property tax as per non-residential zone C. BBMP’s 2016 notification said the property had moved to zone A while the zonal classification capping put it in zone B.
As per sources, when the BJP filed property tax as per SAS 2016 revised zonal classification, the property tax had increased by 64.17% compared to the 2015-16 property tax payment. Meanwhile, the BBMP had allowed an maximum increase of 25% for non-residential properties, according to which the BJP paid the increased amount.
Now, the controversial notice served by the Gandhinagar Assistant Revenue Officer claims that the BJP should have paid taxes from 2016-17, as per zone B with a 25% increase in the tax.
As per the data available with the TheBengaluruLive, the BJP which was paying Rs 3,76,574.13 in property tax to BBMP until 2015-16, paid Rs 4,70,717.66 for 2016-17 inclusive of the 25% increase in tax, and continued to pay the same amount till 2020-21.
Has BJP paid excess tax?
Sources said that BBMP’s revenue officials ‘pulled a fast one’ by convincing BJP functionaries sitting in the party office to file Form V for payment of the property tax by declaring 2008 zonal classification as zone B. Form V is filed if there is a change in extent of built-up area or if the property is rented out by the owner. But in this case, the BJP has not added to the built-up area and nor has it rented out the property.
As per the property tax records, the BJP paid Rs 6,38,552 as against Rs 4,70,717.66 (the tax amount which the party should have paid).
When TheBengaluruLive brought this issue to the attention of party’s organising general secretary Arun Kumar, he said he was aware of the BBMP notice and party functionaries had been tasked with getting the error rectified with BBMP.
BJP stung like the common man!
It may be recalled that TheBengaluruLive had published a story titled ‘78,524 Bengalureans’ property tax woes: Will Chief Minister Bommai come to their rescue?’, in which we had highlighted how BBMP was arm-twisting honest taxpayers by imposing four years’ penalty and interest instead of asking them to rectify the error (if at all any error had taken place).
Now, the state BJP finds itself in the shoes of these thousands of shocked Bengalureans on whom the BBMP sword of huge penalties hangs.
Meanwhile, former deputy mayor S Harish said that the issue has been discussed by party leaders and a BJP delegation will soon meet Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai in this connection.
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