Corpn. to tie-up with post offices for tax collection

The civic body is in talks with India Post officials

If all goes well, property tax assessees in Coimbatore Corporation will be able to pay the tax, water charges and other dues at post offices.

The civic body was in talks with India Post officials after the latter came forward with a proposal in this regard, said Commissioner T.K. Ponnusamy. Mr. Ponnusamy made the remark after Ward 86 Councillor A. Sadiq Ali demanded mobile tax collection centres to facilitate easy payment. This was at Monday's Council meeting.

At present, the Corporation has 13 tax collection centres and counters at 39 bank branches in the city.

It also offers tax payment using debit cards and through e-banking. The last two were part of the Corporation's e-governance initiatives.

Mr. Ponnusamy also told the Councillors that he had not yet discussed the proposal with Mayor S.M. Velusamy and only after they arrive at a decision would the Corporation move ahead and forge a deal.

On Tuesday, he told The Hindu that Deputy Commissioner S. Sivarasu was seized of the issue and negotiating with the officials. The negotiations were about India Post officials placing a demand of Rs. 10 for tax collected for each assessment.

Assessments

Mr. Ponnusamy said this was unacceptable to the Corporation because for many assessments the tax assessed did not exceed Rs. 50.

This was most true of thatched-roofed, tile-roofed houses and those in slums and lower income group localities.

The civic body could accept if the India Post officials were to demand the sum for assessments of higher value.

He also reasoned that the India Post officials could gain from the interest levied for current accounts, into which they would keep the money collected on behalf of the Corporation.

If the Corporation were to sew up an alliance, it would be yet another milestone in tax collection.

Source : The Hindu, March 1, 2012