BMC to allow offices in housing societies

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Friday said that if house owners are ready to pay assessment taxes as per commercial value for using their residence for commercial purposes, the BMC might consider their proposal.

Municipal commissioner Swadhin Kshatriya on Friday also announced that the BMC is going to start a capital value-based assessment system in the city to collect property tax and has already started the process of measuring properties in the city. The properties will be assessed according to the draft rules released by the BMC.

According to the new system, the BMC will also give weightage points to these properties, depending on the age, location, use, and type of construction of the property. Combined with the floor the flat is on, these weightage points will dictate the tax to be paid for the property. At present, this system is just one of the drafts in the rule book, and the BMC plans to publish a public notice for suggestions and objections.

“Till the process is complete, the BMC will charge taxes on property according to the rateable value. If the BMC later notices that the tax levied on some property is more than what is actually applicable, it will adjust the amount, but will not pay interest on it,” Kshatriya added.

“Many houses are being used for commercial purposes without the BMC’s knowledge, and if these establishments come forward to pay taxes according to the commercial value, then the BMC will consider their request to allow them a license,” Kshatriya added.