In order to provide a compliance window to the tax defaulters and an opportunity to clear their previous dues, an amnesty scheme was launched by the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) in mid-November last year. After receiving overwhelming response of the taxpayers, SDMC has decided to extend the amnesty scheme up to March 13, 2017. Now the corporation has granted the department to scrutinise and settle the applications received under the amnesty scheme till March 31.
The applications received on or before the last date of first phase, February 28, will be finalised by the department upto March 29 and those received on or before the last date of the second phase as March 31 will be finalised by the department upto April 30.
“The taxpayers have been allowed to deposit the differential amount within 30 days' time on receipt of the demand from the department; and a liberty has been granted to the taxpayer to withdraw the applications with the initial amount deposited with the applications, in case applicant is not satisfied with the revised demand of the department and requests for withdrawal in this cases, the department will be free to take measures, as provided under the DMC Act to recover the outstanding dues,” said a Corporation official.
“Under the present amnesty scheme with effect from November 18, 2016 to February 28, 2017, about 42,276
taxpayers have availed the benefit of the scheme and deposited an amount of `16,968.51 lakh as compared to the year 2015-16 where 16,845 taxpayer’s colonies deposited `5659.76 lakh,” he added.
He further said, “The scheme has also attracted the residents of even unauthorised colonies and many Government departments have also availed of the benefits of the amnesty scheme and liquidated outstanding dues by paying only principal amount like `47 crore as deposited by education department (GNCTD), `15 crore by BSES, `26 crore by Airport. Similarly, other departments/organisations like Police, Para-Military Forces, AAI, Hotels, etc. are also coming forward to deposit their dues under the Scheme”.
The Corporation in its release further stated that during the financial year 2015-16, data of properties was collected from various sources, mapping was done with the data available and defaulters were identified.
Stern action was taken against the defaulters which included issue of 1,53,341 advisories, 2,10,585 notices u/s 123-D of DMC Act, 520 notices for prosecution and attachment of 623 properties and 374 bank accounts. Due to systematic efforts, the department is completely geared up to take stern action against the tax defaulters and bring maximum number of properties to the tax-net.
Under this scheme, the opportunity is available only for a short period of time and, therefore, all the concerned people and organisations should come forward and take benefit of the scheme to clear their past property tax dues and avoid any coercive action.