Chennai Corporation ~ paying Property Tax Online

It is stated that certainties in life are – ‘death and taxes’ ….. cities are the leading edges of economic  dynamism – long back people started agglomerating in cities moving away from villages.  The bustling metropolis ~ Chennai city according to provisional results of 2011 census, has  4.68 million residents and a few more millions floating.  Though one would dream to live in an independent villa replete with all facilities, there would be still many common requirements, which are expected of the State to be performed and maintained.  There are roads, electricity, sewerage, water supply and much more. The city of Chennai is maintained by Corporation of Chennai.

The Corporation of Chennai (previously Madras) is the Oldest Municipal Institution in India established on the 29th September 1688. A charter was issued on the 30th December, 1607 by East Indian Company constituting the "Town of Fort St. George" and all the territories thereunto belonging, not exceeding the distance of ten miles from the Fort, into a Corporation.  There are various aspects including maintenance of roads; providing electricity, metro water; removal of solid waste etc., that are managed by the Corporation.  It is administered by the  200 councillors, headed by the Worshipful Mayor.  There are Deputy Commissioners and various Heads of Departments and 15 Zonal Officers at present.

The history of tax dates back to many centuries – though crazy Finance Ministers have strived it to make it more encompassing. Taxes on income, sale, purchase and properties were collected to run the ruling Government machineries.  In India, property is considered as a source of income and hence, tax is levied on that. Properties are usually meant by real estates which include any building, flat, shop etc. as well as the land appurtenant to the building. Under the Income Tax Act, incomes from the properties are regarded as one of the heads of income. The amount of tax is calculated on the value of the property being taxed. It is the local municipality authority that levies property tax for the maintenance of basic civic services in the city. Unlike the countries like UK where the occupier is liable to pay the property tax, it is the liability of the property owner to pay the property tax India to the concerned municipalities. Property tax in India is calculated on the basis of ‘Annual Value’.

The need for prompt and timely payment of taxes by all the citizens need not over stated – for it is our responsibility as good citizens to pay tax promptly. In earlier days, people had to stand in long queues to pay the property tax …. and in few places the officials would come door-to-door, collect the tax and issue receipts.  For Office-goers, both presented some problems.  I had earlier posted about paying Property Tax Online – besides ease of convenience, link to the digitized property data for computation of tax eliminates scope for undervaluing the property for taxation purpose thus ensuring  greater revenue mobilisation for the corporation. For making Online payment  of Property tax, one need to know their Zone No. ~ Ward No. and Bill No – all of which are available on the Property Tax assessment book.  On the website of CoC, on the Right hand side, One can find the link –  simply log on to : http://www.chennaicorporation.gov.in/ and  proceed with hassle-free experience of paying your Property tax Online through Credit / Debit card or Internet banking.

About a week back, when I tried paying the tax for this half-year, the link was not working …. After trying many a times, web search led me to an article in The Hindu on 23^rd May 2014 – whichs tated that Corporation’s online system of property tax collection has stopped working over the past two months because of problems in its electronic data processing cell. It quoted officials as saying that problems pertaining to electronic data processing in the civic body was the reason and would be resolved shortly.

Yesterday, I checked up again – the links are working – I was able to pay the property tax so easily – there is no need for User ID or Individual login – you should only have details of Zone No. / Ward No. and Bill no.

Pay your Taxes without delay…. Be a responsible citizen

With regards – S. Sampathkumar.

27^th June 2014.