Noida: Even as the current financial year ends in less than a week, consumers are in a fix over property tax.While mayor Sunita Dayal says that the hiked property tax was rolled back, GMC officials say no such decision has been taken. The mayoral office maintains its position that property taxes will be brought down to pre-April 1, 2025 level.However, caught in the grind are consumers who haven’t paid taxes. Now, they fear that after March 31, they will have to pay a 12% penalty on dues in the form of property taxes.Raj Shekhar, a resident of Kavinagar, said, “The issue is dragging on for a year now. The mayor and the GMC officials are speaking in two voices. There is total confusion. Now as FY 2025-26 is ending, our biggest problem is whether we pay the taxes as per the new tax structure or not. If we don’t, we will have to pay a penalty of 12%. Or shall we go by the mayor’s assurances not to pay taxes on hiked rate?”Minister in Yogi Adityanath govt and Ghaziabad in charge Asim Arun told TOI, “On Tuesday, I was in Ghaziabad, where we held detailed discussion with elected representatives, party members and the GMC officials. After the Allahabad high court’s decision on property tax, the govt is still weighing its options. In fact, after coming from Ghaziabad, I brought this to the CM’s notice and a decision on this will be taken very much soon.”In Feb, a two-judge bench —comprising Chief Justice Arun Bhansali and Kshitij Shailendra —dismissed a petition filed by former GMC councillors against the hiked property tax.“We are for bringing more property into the tax net. Having said that development of the city is also paramount, which will come only from the revenue generated from property taxes and other sources as well. At this stage, we would like to emphasise that, but taxes have been and will be framed in a way that it will not put burden on the common man,” the minister of state for social welfare and SC/ST welfare said.But assurances have failed to allay the apprehensions of residents.“Why is the govt dragging its feet on the issue? They should come out clean,” said IN Jha, another resident of Gaur Sidhartham.A senior GMC official said, “The decision to hike property tax was taken by the GMC board after due consultation with the state govt and there has been no change on this issue. In fact, after HC’s order, it should leave no doubt in the minds of the residents.”As for burden on the common people, GMC official said, “We have already given a slew of rebates to taxpayers, which will effectively bring down the rates: A 10% rebate from April 1, 2026 for societies, institutions and residents who follow segregation of waste at source; a 20% rebate to consumers, who pay taxes on time by the end of each FY year; a 25% rebate on buildings up to 10 years old; a 32.5% rebate on buildings between 10 and 20 years old; a 40% rebate on buildings over 25 years old; and a 2% rebate to consumers who use an online payment mode to pay property tax. Unlike covered area, property tax is now computed on the basis of carpet area. The rebates being offered under all heads add up to between 77% and 92%.”
