GHMC Sets New Record With Property Tax collections: Rose

The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) had achieved a remarkable milestone in property tax collections, surpassing the previous year's figures by an outstanding margin, its Commissioner Ronald Rose claimed today.

The revised budget estimates for 2023-2024 were Rs 1,810 crore, and the GHMC had successfully collected Rs 1,917 crore, he said.

The last year's collections were Rs 1,660 crore.

A pivotal factor contributing to this remarkable success had been the implementation of the One Time Settlement (OTS) scheme, enabling a 90% interest waiver on property tax arrears until the financial year 2022-23, Rose said. This initiative alone had resulted in the collection of nearly Rs 300 crore this year, showcasing its effectiveness in incentivizing compliance among taxpayers, he claimed.

Highlighting the sheer magnitude of last-minute collections, the GHMC recorded over Rs 123 crore on the final day alone.

The huge overall collection was achieved despite the fact that it has largely been an election year with Bill Collectors and Tax Inspectors playing crucial election duties such as BLOs and BLO supervisors. Moreover, concerted efforts to address long-pending issues with both government and private entities had significantly contributed to streamlining the tax collection process and enhancing overall efficiency, Rose said.

The GHMC acknowledged the invaluable contributions of Bill Collectors, Tax Inspectors, Assistant Municipal Commissioners (AMCs), Deputy Commissioners (DCs), Zonal Commissioners (ZCs), the central tax section, and the IT and finance wings at the head office. Their tireless efforts had been instrumental in achieving the feat, Rose said. The proactive involvement of special officers also played a crucial role in achieving the record-breaking figure, he said.