Rs.1,350 cr set as target for Corpn’s property tax this yr

In the previous financial year, the civic body collected Rs 1,002.64 crore. “Even though we have fixed a target of Rs 1,350 crore collection, we will collect at least Rs 1,400 crore, as total property tax demand after the recent revision has increased to around Rs 1,500 crore,” a Greater Chennai Corporation official said.

In 2018-2019, the civic body had initially fixed a target of Rs 1,200 crore but it was revised to Rs 1,000 crore owing to the works pertaining to the general revision and Lok Sabha election. In 2017-18, the civic body had collected Rs 720.72 crore.

The official added that they had collected more than Rs 10 crore on April 1, the first day of the financial year. “After the election works are completed, our officials will return to their regular work and begin tax collection. On March 31 alone, we had collected Rs 50 crore,” a higher official said.

Overall, the civic body has recorded a tax collection of Rs 1,472.66 crore in 2018-19, which also includes professional tax, company tax, entertainment tax and others. “We are expecting an increase in professional tax collection, too. Last year we collected Rs 385 crore.”