Meerut Municipal Corporation Collects Rs 1.10 Cr In One Day, Extends 20% Property Tax Rebate Till January 31

Property tax collection by the Meerut Municipal Corporation witnessed a sharp spike on Wednesday, the last day of 2025, with revenues crossing Rs 1.10 crore in a single day, far higher than the usual daily collection of Rs 10-15 lakh. With this, the total property tax collection has crossed Rs 50 crore against an annual target of Rs 133 crore.

With three months remaining in the current financial year, the corporation now faces the challenge of collecting the remaining Rs 83 crore. To accelerate recovery, officials have decided to organise ward-wise property tax resolution camps in the new year. These camps will address objections on the spot and facilitate the submission of self-assessment forms.

ALSO READ: Bihar Govt Orders IAS-IPS, State Employees To Submit Asset Details; Deadlines Set For Online Disclosure

The Municipal Corporation has also extended the 20 per cent rebate on current property tax payments till January 31, providing property owners another opportunity to avail the discount. The extension was approved on the directions of Mayor Harikant Ahluwalia, extending the earlier deadline of December 31.

After reviewing arrangements at the Kankarkhera zonal office, Municipal Commissioner Saurabh Gangwar held a late-evening meeting with senior officials of the tax department. Additional Municipal Commissioner, Chief Tax Assessment Officer, Tax Superintendent and Revenue Inspectors have been instructed to set up ward-level camps for bill correction and self-assessment facilitation. The Chief Tax Assessment Officer has also been directed to publicise the schedule of these camps in advance.

Officials have been asked to make the GIS ID application public to allow residents to check past and present property tax details for their homes and commercial establishments. Property tax rates will also be publicised, and a list of applicable rates will be provided along with self-assessment forms.

The Municipal Commissioner said property owners facing issues with their tax bills should register objections at the camps or the Municipal Corporation office. Bills will be amended after verification based on the submitted self-assessment forms.

Chief Tax Assessment Officer SK Gautam said that on December 31 alone, 2,450 property owners paid Rs 1.10 crore through cash counters and online platforms. In comparison, daily collections on regular days range between Rs 10-15 lakh. In the previous financial year (2024-25), the corporation collected Rs 76 crore against a target of Rs 100 crore. He added that protests had slowed collections, but objections are now being addressed through resolution camps, which are being closely monitored.

ALSO READ: Bengaluru Power Cut: Shutdown Announced By BESCOM On January 2; List Of Areas, Timings

According to the tax department, nearly one lakh property owners have paid their taxes so far this financial year. As per the GIS survey, there are around 3.05 lakh residential and commercial properties across 90 wards, with tax yet to be collected from nearly two lakh property owners. Bills have been issued to approximately 2.35 lakh properties.

To improve payment convenience, the corporation has opened five additional cash counters at Saraswati Lok Delhi vehicle depot, Surajkund vehicle depot, night shelters on Gagoal Road and Pallavpuram Phase Two, and the Kankarkhera zonal office, taking the total number of counters to ten.

Meanwhile, Rajya Sabha member Dr Laxmikant Bajpai visited the Municipal Corporation office and said that Meerut has the lowest property tax rates in the state, which have remained unchanged since 2003. He questioned the opposition to property tax collection and called for corrective action against duplicate billing. He also stressed the need to make the GIS app and tax rates public to ensure transparency.

Dr Bajpai alleged that certain individuals were creating a hostile atmosphere against the Municipal Corporation for personal interests, adding that GIS-based systems were now exposing accurate property details such as built-up area, houses and shops. Officials said objections are being resolved through self-assessment-based verification.