Urban taxpayers asked to submit self-assessed property by September 10

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The State Government has started the process for self-assessment of property by holders and taxpayers in all urban areas. It has asked the property holders to submit their self-assessed report to their respective local urban bodies by September 10, 2022. Failing this, the government will take action against the taxpayers according to the Assam Municipal Act, 1956.

The Commissioner and Secretary, Department of Housing and Urban Affairs, issued a notification on June 28, 2022, stating that "… some of the municipal boards had assessed property tax way back in 1979, and the said assessment is still continuing without modification. Whereas during the long period, the annual values of holdings have increased substantively and the state Revenue Department has also revised the land values."

The 15th Finance Commission recommended in its Report 2021-26 that "to be eligible for receipt of grants, the Urban Local Bodies have to notify floor rates of property taxes and the collection has to in tandem with the growth rate of State's own GSDP growth."

The 15th Finance Commission further set a condition that "the growth in property tax collection has to be at least as much as the simple average growth rate of the state's own GSDP in the most recent five years."

The Commissioner and Secretary said in the notification that "it is expedient in the public interest and in the interest of Municipal Boards that revision of annual value of holdings is undertaken in a cardinal and fair manner with a view to enhance the revenue of the boards and to equip them to render basic civic services with ease."

The urban local bodies have issued notices asking the taxpayers to file for self-assessment of their holding giving details of the land, carpet area and nature of sub-charge by September 10, 2022, so as to let local urban bodies determine the annual rental value of the property.

Ward-wise ULB teams will assess or reassess the properties of the property holders from September 10 to November 15, 2022. The urban local bodies will publish a draft assessment list on November 20, 2022, and issue notices for lodging claims and objections. And the urban local bodies will dispose of claims and objections by November 20-December 20, 2022. The final assessment list will come out on December 31, 2022.

This assessment will remain valid for five years after which the government will reassess the property.

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