Pune has changed how it collects property tax, making it more digital since 2019. However, many people are still confused about the new ways to check and pay their taxes. A lot of residents found big differences in their tax bills, with more than 47% noticing unexpected changes from 2022 to 2023. The city started using a new system to assess property taxes based on maps, which led to over 12,000 questions from property owners wanting to understand how their taxes were calculated.
Since January 2023, complaints about property taxes have increased by 32%, showing there are still problems with the new system. Many complaints are about wrong measurements of properties, with 28% of people saying their property sizes don't match what's recorded for taxes. There have also been issues with the online payment system, causing delays and sometimes charging people twice, affecting around 3,400 residents.
The city has set up a helpdesk to answer questions, but they're only solving 64% of the problems, leaving many issues unresolved. Most disputes, about 41%, come from properties being classified incorrectly, while 33% are about wrong tax rates based on how properties are used.
Civic groups are asking for a careful review of how properties are assessed. They believe that 22% of commercial properties and 31% of residential properties may have been valued incorrectly. The city is aware and plans to have an outside group check the system by December 2023.
Recently, data shows that property tax collection has dropped by 18% compared to last year. This is mostly because people are confused and unsure about the new system. To help, the city plans to hold weekly workshops and create a clearer way to handle complaints.
These changes are important, and we need to watch how they're put into action. They could help solve ongoing problems and improve how Pune collects property taxes.
