Pune Municipal Corporation Introduces Speed Post Delivery for Property Tax Bills

Pune, 18th March 2024: From April 1, the Pune Municipal Corporation’s Taxation and Tax Collection Department will commence sending out property tax bills for the financial year 2024-25. In a new initiative, bills will be dispatched via speed post to citizens who previously did not receive their bills, ensuring wider coverage and prompt delivery.

Dr Kunal Khemnar, Additional Municipal Commissioner, revealed that out of the city’s 14 lakh properties, approximately two and a half lakh citizens will receive their bills through speed post. This move aims to address concerns raised by citizens who faced difficulties in paying their taxes due to non-receipt of bills.

The PMC has recorded a significant increase in property tax collections this financial year, amounting to Rs 2,900 crore, which is Rs 314 crore more than the previous year. Despite this, around 9 lakh 53 thousand property owners have settled their dues, leaving a portion of arrears unresolved.

Various factors contribute to these outstanding dues, including incomplete addresses, incorrect names, and double billing. Additionally, some citizens overlook payment reminders, leading to accumulated fines and increased amounts owed to the municipal corporation.

To tackle these challenges, the Municipal Corporation has devised a solution by employing speed post services to deliver bills to affected citizens. By leveraging the postal department’s infrastructure, the PMC aims to ensure accurate delivery by capturing precise addresses, contact numbers, and email addresses of property owners.

Each bill sent via speed post is estimated to cost between 12 to 14 rupees, a measure approved by the Standing Committee. This initiative not only facilitates efficient bill delivery but also streamlines the registration process, providing updated information to the tax department for future correspondence.

Furthermore, a special campaign led by Deputy Commissioner Madhav Jagtap is underway to recover outstanding property tax arrears. Notably, 3000 properties belonging to defaulting taxpayers have been sealed as part of enforcement measures. Jagtap emphasized the effectiveness of these actions, noting that some property owners promptly settled their dues upon receiving notices of property sealings.