South Delhi has most property tax evaders

South Delhi residents may have posh addresses, but not many like to dig into their deep pockets when it comes to paying property tax. Hamari Jamatia reports. Numbers don’t add up

South Delhi residents may have posh addresses, but not many like to dig into their deep pockets when it comes to paying property tax.

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According to the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC), lakhs of property owners have been identified who are evading property tax.

The corporation has now asked its house tax department to consolidate the unique property identification code (UPIC), which was given to properties last year. The special code identifies each property, and keeps a record of whether tax has been paid or not.

Of the 12 lakh codes distributed across the city last year, property tax has been received from just nine lakh. This means that three lakh households are still trying to flee from paying taxes.

"Of the three lakh households, which have not paid taxes, a substantial number belong to south Delhi. The property tax department will send notices to such households," said a senior official of SDMC.

The House of SDMC will take up the matter on Monday, when the corporation will organise its meeting. It will also discuss how to increase the number of properties under the tax gambit.

The unified MCD had come up with the concept of UPIC in February last year. The staff had then surveyed properties in the city and given numbers to each one.

The three corporations will now have to check how many UPIC properties fall under their jurisdiction. "With the trifurcation, 20 wards have been changed in the four zones belonging to SDMC. This means that a recounting of UPIC will have to be done," added Arya.

Numbers don’t add up