Property tax notice baffles residents

                                         Property tax notice baffles residents

GURGAON: Several residents who have got house tax notice, perhaps for the first time, don’t seem to be aware how to go about paying it. Acknowledging that there seems to be some kind of ambiguity over the payment of tax, the municipal corporation officials say the confusion is because of the change in the house tax policy announced a few months ago.

,While until recently property tax was being calculated according to the previous method and rate, the MCG has started sending new notices since the past fortnight. The new policy clearly states that ever since the Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon was formed (2008), those living in self-occupied houses don’t have to pay property tax for the next two years (2008-09 and 2009-10).

,”Residents have to pay tax for the period 2008-09 and 2009-10 only if their house was rented out. They are however exempt from paying the tax if their house was self occupied. However, they will have to pay tax from year 2010-11 as per the amount in the notice they have received. We are aware that because of the new tax policy, there seems to be some confusion. Our zonal taxation officials too are not certain about the new policy,” said an official.

,”For the past few days we are sending tax notice to the residents and all that they need to do is come to the citizen facility centre opposite Civil Hospital in the old city and pay tax through cash, cheque or demand draft. They can also pay online on our website www.mcg.gov.in. For residents of new Gurgaon area we are planning to open a citizen facilitation centre in their area so that they don’t have to travel far,” he added.