In a record of sorts, Greater Chennai Corporation collected 7.5 crores as property and professional tax in less than 10 hours on Sunday. People thronged the offices of the civic body after it announced that it will accept the demonetised 500 and 1000 notes.
A few days ago, Coimbatore Corporation collected 11 crores on a day after people made tax payments using old currency.
Greater Chennai Corporation sources attributed the huge collection to the decision on accepting 500 and 1,000 currency notes. "Clearly, it is an impact of demonetisation," a source said, adding that it could the highest single day property tax collection in recent years. Sunday's property tax collection was twice than the per day average of property tax collection ranging between 3 crores and 4 crores. People can pay their property and professional tax on Monday also.
Saranyan K, who went to the corporation office in T Nagar to pay his taxes, said he stood in the line for a long time. "But I was happy as I was able to do away with a few of my notes," he said.
Official sources said people made tax payments for the current fiscal, besides pending arrears for previous years. While Greater Chennai Corporation has collected property tax to the tune of more than 400 crore in the first half of this year (from April 2016 to September 2016), it has fixed a target of 650 crore by the end of this financial year.
The corporation made elaborate arrangements by opening 446 special counters across 15 zones in the city. Every counter had two officials to collect the tax between 8.00am and 6.00pm.
Greater Chennai Corporation commissioner Karthikeyan said tax payments can be made beyond the closing hours of 6.00pm at the special counters on Monday. In a statement here, he said there was a huge response among Chennaiities for the corporation's announcement of collecting 500 and 1,000 for property and professional tax.
A few days ago, Coimbatore Corporation collected 11 crores on a day after people made tax payments using old currency.
Greater Chennai Corporation sources attributed the huge collection to the decision on accepting 500 and 1,000 currency notes. "Clearly, it is an impact of demonetisation," a source said, adding that it could the highest single day property tax collection in recent years. Sunday's property tax collection was twice than the per day average of property tax collection ranging between 3 crores and 4 crores. People can pay their property and professional tax on Monday also.
Saranyan K, who went to the corporation office in T Nagar to pay his taxes, said he stood in the line for a long time. "But I was happy as I was able to do away with a few of my notes," he said.
Official sources said people made tax payments for the current fiscal, besides pending arrears for previous years. While Greater Chennai Corporation has collected property tax to the tune of more than 400 crore in the first half of this year (from April 2016 to September 2016), it has fixed a target of 650 crore by the end of this financial year.
The corporation made elaborate arrangements by opening 446 special counters across 15 zones in the city. Every counter had two officials to collect the tax between 8.00am and 6.00pm.
Greater Chennai Corporation commissioner Karthikeyan said tax payments can be made beyond the closing hours of 6.00pm at the special counters on Monday. In a statement here, he said there was a huge response among Chennaiities for the corporation's announcement of collecting 500 and 1,000 for property and professional tax.