1 hr ago
Bengaluru Property Owners Face New Software Fee Alongside Tax
Bengaluru property owners are being asked to pay a new fee with their property tax.
Homes must reportedly pay ₹200 each year.
Commercial properties must reportedly pay ₹1,000 each year.
The money is meant to support computer systems used for online civic services.
Some taxpayers are unhappy because the fee was introduced during the financial year.
They also questioned why there was no official announcement.
The Greater Bengaluru Authority says the fee is needed to maintain and improve these systems.
An official said digital services have helped issue nearly 12 lakh e-Khatas in less than two years.
The Greater Bengaluru Authority has begun charging an annual software fee alongside property tax.
Residential properties reportedly face a ₹200 annual fee, while commercial properties face ₹1,000.
The fee is intended to fund technology supporting online property-tax payments and other civic services.
The charge reportedly appeared midway through the financial year without an official announcement, prompting taxpayer criticism.
GBA official Munish Moudgil defended the fee as necessary to maintain and upgrade digital infrastructure.
- Who
- The Greater Bengaluru Authority and Bengaluru property owners are involved; Special Commissioner Munish Moudgil defended the charge.
- What
- An annual software fee is being collected alongside property tax.
- Where
- Across Bengaluru’s five corporations under the Greater Bengaluru Authority.
- When
- The charge has been introduced during the current financial year, according to the reports.
- Why
- The GBA says the fee covers recurring costs for maintaining and upgrading digital infrastructure used for property-tax collection and other civic services.
Taxpayer Concerns
GBA Justification
Need for the additional fee
Taxpayer Concerns
Taxpayers have questioned the need for an extra charge alongside property tax.
GBA Justification
The GBA says the fee is necessary to cover recurring technology and IT-infrastructure costs.
Timing and communication
Taxpayer Concerns
Critics have objected that the charge appeared midway through the financial year and reportedly arrived without an official announcement.
GBA Justification
GBA officials have defended implementation of the fee as a measure needed to support existing digital civic services.
Value of digital services
Taxpayer Concerns
Some property owners have questioned whether the additional payment is justified.
GBA Justification
Munish Moudgil said ₹200 for residential properties is nominal compared with the time and convenience provided by digital services.
Key facts
- Residential fee
- ₹200 annually
- Commercial fee
- ₹1,000 annually
- Authority
- Greater Bengaluru Authority
- Collection method
- Charged alongside annual property tax
- Stated purpose
- Maintaining and upgrading digital infrastructure
- Reported timing
- Introduced midway through the financial year
- Digital example
- Nearly 12 lakh e-Khatas reportedly issued in less than two years
Quotes
Munish Moudgil
GBA Special Commissioner for Revenue and IT
“In building a world-class city, we need world-class software and IT infrastructure,”
livemint.com
Sources
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