After reforming the holding tax format for alleviating burden on holding owners, Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) is now endeavouring to upgrade the procedure associated with it by making it online for the convenience of taxpayers.
The roster of 25 tax collectors working under the urban local body will be equipped with tablet computers for site verification of self-assessment of holding tax filed by holding owners and uploading their findings using the devices then and there, making the process seamless.
Of a mind to make the holding tax assessment completely online, RMC is in the process of acquiring the required hardware. RMC had invited bidders for supplying seven desktop computers and 25 tablet computers which are to be used solely for the purpose of overseeing holding tax assessment and verification.
As per the new format, holding owners were supposed to assess on their own the holding tax they have to pay on the basis of the carpet area of their structures and new annual rates, and file their evaluations through self-assessment forms.
These forms can be downloaded online. Also, 3.5 lakh assessment forms have been provided to our tax collectors and can be acquired from them if needed, informed an RMC official.
“The process of self-assessment for holding tax under the new format will be online. If a holding owner is unable to submit the assessment online, it can be done by the tax collectors through their tablet computers. The record of these assessments, received online and offline both, will be maintained here at RMC offices through desktop computers,” stated RMC PRO Naresh Kumar Sinha.
launching the new holding tax format one month ago, RMC Municipal Commissioner Prashant Kumar had made it clear that although officials will not go door-to-door for tax assessment, they will verify these assessments in person and those submitting false evaluations will be penalised. This verification of the tax assessment after it is submitted by the holding owner will also be aided by the tablets.
Explaining the procedure, RMC’s tax collection agency Sparrow Softech’s Vice President Deepankar Kumar, said, “During the verification, the nature of the structure will be ascertained – whether it is commercial or residential, self-occupied or rented and more – along with confirming that the assessment submitted is correct. Moreover, the verification process will be two-tiered.”
He further said, “Preliminary verification will be done by our team, following which the 25 tax collectors of RMC will verify the assessment in their respective beats. Findings of this double-verification recorded online will help in pinpointing any discrepancies in tax evaluation, closing any loopholes in form of faulty information.”