Srinagar, Mar 12: A day after Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha stated that the interests of the people have been taken into consideration, the Jammu & Kashmir administration has officially sought feedback from the general public over the proposed property tax.
According to a statement released by Housing and Urban Development, the general public has been asked for recommendations and opinions about the implementation of property taxes in Jammu and Kashmir.
“Any suggestions, or comments in this regard are welcome and may be sent to the Housing & Urban Development Department at the email address [email protected] within 10 days,” it reads.
It further states that UT of Jammu & Kashmir is levying property tax on residential houses/apartments, and commercial establishments, within the municipal areas from April 01, 2023 in terms of two notifications issued by the H&UDD on Feb 21.
In his remarks on Saturday, Lieutenant Governor Sinha stated that the government’s top priority is to advance the interests of Jammu and Kashmir’s common citizens. As a result, suggestions for how to make things easier, like the Property Tax, are welcome by the government.
“We have released a Toll-Free number on which suggestions can be given by the people. Our doors are always open for dialogue. Suggestions aimed at simplification of tax and facilities to be given will be considered. There is no scope for the politicization of the issue,” he said.
The Lieutenant Governor reiterated that Property Tax imposed in Jammu and Kashmir is one-tenth from the rates in Ambala, Shimla and Dehradun.
“People in rural areas don’t have to pay any tax. Forty percent of the population in City too won’t have to pay tax. Another 40 percent will have to pay a maximum tax of Rs 1,000 per year.
Similarly, in commercial installations totaling 1,01,700; nearly 40,000 will have to pay Rs 700 per annum and another 36,000 will be paying maximum Rs 2,000 annually,” Sinha said and pointed out that even a rehri wala pays Rs 5000 every year to Municipalities.
On February 21, 2023, J&K’s Housing and Urban Development Department issued two separate notifications for levying, assessment and collection of property tax in the urban areas of Jammu and Kashmir, where 27% of the UT’s population resides as per the 2011 census figures.
The Jammu & Kashmir Property Tax (Municipal Corporation) Rules, 2023 and the Jammu & Kashmir (Other Municipalities) Rules, 2023, notified by the government, define the procedure for collection of property tax within the limits of municipal corporations, committees and councils in the UT.
As per these rules, property tax is to be 5% of the taxable annual value (TAV) on residential properties and 6% of the taxable annual value on commercial properties.
The rules have faced widespread criticism in Jammu and Kashmir, with political parties, business bodies and even lawyers flaying the decision.
