Alappuzha: The local governing bodies are knee-deep in financial crisis after making payments, including to the Nava Kerala Sadas. To regulate this, the local bodies are intensifying the collection of building tax. Notices have been issued to building owners who have not paid their taxes yet. Those who have defaulted will need to pay fines.

This financial year, the local bodies have only collected Rs 635.55 crore in building tax. Rs 1995.40 is pending. Thus, 75 percent of the building tax has to be collected within three and a half months.

Building tax is levied twice in a fiscal year by the local bodies. However, most people do not make the first payment. The notice says that such defaulters will need to pay fines from this year onwards. 

After sending out the notices, an increase in tax collection has been noticed. Until last month, the average tax was Rs 2.8 crore per day. Now it has increased to more than Rs 4 crore per day. This is attributed to the fact that the notices sent to building owners invite actions like property seizure and legal actions if the tax is not paid within 15 days of receiving the notice. 

Since the building tax reform process began in April 2023, there has been an increase in tax when compared to last year. Action against those who do not pay taxes will be taken only after a tax collection camp is held as in the previous years.

Building tax can be paid online through the website https://tax.lsgkerala.gov.in/epayment/. Tax can be paid by selecting the ‘Quick Pay’ option and entering details like the district, local body type (corporation, municipal corporation, grama panchayat), name of the local body, ward, year, and house number. The receipt can also be downloaded after paying the taxes.