BENGALURU: BBMP recently wrote to telecom operators, urging them to pay property tax dues by utilising One Time Settlement (OTS) scheme, which is ending on Nov 30, to avoid paying extra penalty and interest.
According to BBMP sources, there are nearly 10,000 telecom towers in the city and property tax towards many of them haven’t been paid since Jan 9, 2015. The Palike estimates the dues amount to over Rs 100 crore.
According to a high court order, property tax on telecom towers is payable with effect from Jan 9, 2015, officials said. OTS scheme offers a full interest waiver and penalty limited to a token amount of Rs 100 per year for payment of arrears.
On Oct 14, BBMP chief commissioner Tushar Giri Nath issued guidelines on collection of property tax from telecom operators. According to the circular, the Palike has to collect tax from the second half of 2014-15 financial year (from Oct 1, 2014).
In the circular, BBMP fixed year-wise annual tax and cess. Telecom operators can pay Rs 7,540 per tower for 2014-15, and it is fixed at Rs 19,000 per tower in 2024-25. This amount will double if operators clear their dues from Dec 1.
According to BBMP calculations, a telecom operator must pay Rs 1,68,300 per tower if it was erected in 2016 and tax is pending till 2024.
