No increase in House tax, existing rates to apply: Ghaziabad Mayor

Dayal said house tax was revised this financial year and it would not be appropriate to increase it further. “In the interest of the people of the city, instructions have been given not to increase house tax. It has also been said that in the past, house tax was increased by 10%, before that too, it was increased by 5%… as per rules, it cannot be increased now,” the Mayor said.

“This proposal has come from the state government, but it will not be implemented yet. I will take this issue to the GMC board, where it will be discussed with all councilors… because if we implement this in the current form, then house tax will increase a lot. If required, we will take this matter to the government level,” Dayal told The Indian Express.

As the municipal corporation cannot place additional burden on the people, talks are on with officials and every possible step will be taken on priority, the Mayor added.

Dayal also appealed to those who have never paid any house tax to voluntarily come forward and do so. In such cases, only tax for the last two years will be collected. Otherwise, the GMC will collect tax from them with charges in place since the beginning.

“We have appealed to the public to self-calculate and inform us how much house tax they have to pay. In such a situation, they will be given an exemption. For this, we will set up camps at various places, so people do not face any problems. But if someone deliberately does not deposit his/her house tax, then action will be taken by the corporation and they will have to pay the full tax from the start,” added Dayal.
Some former councilors too opposed the move and said it would be unfair to impose additional burden on home buyers.

In his objection submitted to the GMC, ex-councilor Mukesh Garg said the municipal commissioner can revise house tax only once in two years as per the UP Municipal Corporation Act, 1959. “House tax was increased by 10% on April 1, 2023, and implemented… and the proposed rates are to be implemented from April 1, 2024 — this is not legal because it would be revised before two years,” said Garg.