Srinagar, Feb 27: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said that 40 per cent of the J&K population will have to pay no property tax and the remaining 60 per cent have to pay nominal amount between Rs 600 to Rs 1000 maximum amount per annum. He said that tax amount fixed is one-tenth of the tax being paid by Shimla, Ambala and Dehradun.
Addressing the media on the sidelines of an inauguration event, Sinha said the property tax in Jammu and Kashmir is the least as compared to other states. There are around 5,20,000 houses in cities of J&K.
“ Out of these, 2,06,000 houses are less than 1000 sq ft which means 40% won’t have to pay any property tax. 2,03,680 houses are less than 1500 sq ft and 80% of these households will have to pay less than ₹ 600 per annum while the rest will have to pay a nominal amount of ₹ 1000 (maximum). This amount is one-tenth of the tax amount being paid in Shimla, Ambala, and Dehradun,” the LG said.
Briefing about details, the LG said in commercial establishments, out of 1,01,000 shops in Srinagar, Jammu & other municipalities, and around 46% of shops ( 46,000 shops) are less than 100 sqft and they will have to pay upto ₹ 700 per annum.
“Out of these 46,000 shops, 80% will have to pay ₹ 500-550 per annum/ ₹ 50 per month. 30,000 shops will have to pay taxes below ₹ 2000 per annum which is also one-tenth of the amount being paid in Shimla, Ambala and Dehradun,” he said.
LG said 76% of shops will be paying a nominal amount in the shape of Property Tax. No better arrangements can be made than this.
“The revenue generated won’t go to the J&K UT Government and will be deposited in the accounts of the corporations and municipalities. It will be utilized for improving public amenities,” LG Sinha said.
He said the administration has taken into consideration the common man before taking any decision in this regard. Still, I tell the people if they have any problem should write to the officials of the authorities in this regard, he said.
“If a common man has any problem, he must reach out to the administration. It is our collective responsibility to build a J&K which is economically prosperous, with ample opportunities for livelihood generation so that people can live & work with dignity and peace,” LG Sinha said.
He urged the common people to come and extend the help hand to the authorities in making a better Jammu and Kashmir.
The J&K government announced the imposition of property tax in the UT from April 1. The move evoked sharp criticism from the cross-section of society and the political parties, who demanded immediate rollback of the order.
As per the government notification, the tax rates will be five percent of the taxable annual value for residential properties and six percent for commercial properties.
