Distt Admin Pulwama holds awareness programme to dispel misconceptions regarding newly-implemented Property Tax

Tax rates in J&K is one of the lowest in the country: DC Pulwama

PULWAMA, February 25: on the directions of Deputy Commissioner Pulwama, Baseer-Ul-Haq Choudhary, the District Administration Pulwama on Saturday held an awareness programme at Town Hall Awantipora to dispel and clarify the misconceptions regarding the newly-implemented Property Tax among the people under its jurisdiction.

The awareness programme was attended by the officers from various Departments, members of civil society and trade unions.

During the programme, people were sensitized about the property tax and the benefits besides the misconceptions revolving around the property tax were also cleared. The officers also explained the Property Tax provisions in detail to the audiences.

Speaking on the occasion, Officers said there is a lot of factually incorrect and misleading information circulating in the media with regard to Property Tax. So it is important that the general public is made aware of the correct information and facts of the matter.

The people were sensitized that the Property tax is progressive in nature with minimal implications to small households and businesses. The officers informed the gathering that houses and apartment’s up to 1000 sqft and agricultural land are completely exempted from the tax. All places of worship, including temples, masjids, gurudwaras, churches, ziarats and cremation/ Burial grounds are also exempted, they added.

It was also informed that the tax levied would be a very meagre amount and hence will not be burdening common citizens.

Regarding the Property tax, Deputy Commissioner Pulwama earlier said that the Property tax will be levied by Municipalities to augment their resources for the development and improvement of infrastructure/ services in the town. Tax collected shall be deposited in the Bank Account of the concerned Municipality. The income collected from property tax will remain one of the main revenue generation sources for Municipalities.

The DC assured the people that with the ULB development, their lives will be improved to a great extent besides the quality and level of services provided by the ULB. Tax to be added annually and not monthly, he added.

Further, the DC said that more awareness camps and seminars will be held across the District to sensitize the masses about the Property Tax.