Corporation to step up tax collection

The Kochi Corporation is set to launch a slew of  measures to intensify tax collection. The move comes in the   wake of the state government offer to increase the development fund for the Corporation by 10 per cent if the  local bodies increase their income at least by 10 per cent.

The major steps by the Corporation to augment tax collection  include organising tax collection camps at all the 74 divisions under the Corporation, twice a year.

The civic body has also initiated steps to join hands with various resident’s associations to collect tax from the  residents of major flats and apartment complexes.

“The Corporation has already entrusted the deputy secretary with the task of looking into the possibilities of forming special squads for each divisions to identify unauthorised buildings in the respective areas. Along with that, measures to encourage the officials to speed up the proceedings are  also mooted. Good service entry and rewards will be given to the officials who garner the maximum amount,” said a Corporation official.

The necessity for collecting the taxes on time will be discussed at the ward sabhas and the Corporation will seek the help of the councillors to create awareness among the tax payers on the need of paying taxes correctly.

“Notices to create awareness will be pasted specifying the last date at major junctions at all the divisions,” the official added.

The government’s decision to increase development fund by 10 percent is as per the recommendations by the fourth Finance Commission.

The Corporation has already launched some major steps like revision of the property tax rates. The revenue squad of the Corporation too launched inspections focusing on buildings that were assessed as residential ones for taxation purposes earlier and later converted into commercial establishments. Since there is a considerable difference in the tax rate for the two categories, the civic body also has started the re-assessment of such buildings.

The Corporation is targeting a Rs 100 crore revenue through tax collection this fiscal year.