ULB staff verify PTIN records amid property tax concerns in Telangana

Municipal staff across Telangana have begun field verification of PTIN records and trade licences. The exercise has raised concerns about a possible property tax revision as the government struggles to meet its revenue collection targets.

Hyderabad: Staff of municipalities and municipal corporations across Telangana have begun field inspections using Property Tax Identification Number (PTIN) data to verify assessed, unassessed and underassessed properties.

Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) are also checking trade licences of commercial establishments during the inspections. Senior officials in the ULBs said the exercise was routine. However, the intensified verification has raised concerns among residents about a possible increase in property tax.

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At a recent meeting of the Madiga Employees Coordination Committee, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy said the State government was facing financial constraints. He also asked government employees to focus on improving tax collection. Following these instructions, ULB staff have stepped up checks of PTIN records and trade licence details. The exercise has triggered concerns among residents that the government may consider revising property tax.

There are more than 25 lakh property assessments in the State, excluding those under the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation. For the current financial year, which ends in about two weeks, the Municipal Administration department set a target of collecting more than Rs.1,175 crore in property tax. With around 15 days remaining, only Rs.505 crore has been collected so far.

Last year, the department collected about 64 percent of the Rs.1,000 crore target. Officials said ULB staff are now intensifying collection efforts in their respective areas. Meanwhile, 27 ULBs were recently merged with the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation. As a result, around five lakh to six lakh properties have come under the GHMC limits.

Officials estimate that these properties could contribute Rs.400 crore to Rs.500 crore in property tax. It is still unclear whether the GHMC will directly collect property tax from the merged areas or whether the existing ULB staff will continue the process.

During its tenure, the Bharat Rashtra Samithi government had not increased property tax for residential buildings. “Property tax revision is a policy decision. As of now, there are no instructions from the government regarding a revision,” a senior municipal administration official said.