Pune, India: In light of the server outage in the Property Tax department of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), citizens were facing challenges in making their tax payments. The last day for availing a 5 percent rebate on general tax payments was today (July 31). Moreover, those with outstanding arrears were to face a 2 percent penalty (Shasti Kar). Due to the server issues, taxpayers encountered difficulties in accessing the PMC Property Tax centers, resulting in frustration and inconvenience.
Responding to the situation, Policenama brought this issue to the attention of the municipal administration, urging them to address the concerns faced by income taxpayers. Consequently, the PMC has taken a considerate step to provide relief to the taxpayers.
Ajit Deshmukh, the Head of Income Tax Levy and Tax Collection Department at PMC Property Tax, acknowledged the server disruption, which began at 11 am and resumed at a slower speed around 2:30 pm. This technical glitch coincided with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit, leading to altered traffic patterns within the city. In light of these circumstances, the PMC has made a crucial decision to extend the deadline for income tax payment until August 2.
During the period from May 15 to July 31, Pune Municipal Corporation had offered a 5 to 10 percent discount on residential income tax to citizens. As a result of this incentive, the municipal treasury received over Rs 1100 crores in income over the course of two and a half months. With today marking the last day to avail of this tax discount, citizens were actively attempting to pay their taxes on time.
To facilitate tax payments, citizens resorted to both online transactions and in-person visits to the civic amenities office in the Regional Office. However, due to the surge in online tax payments, the municipal corporation’s online system experienced a temporary collapse.
The extension of the income tax payment deadline by Pune Municipal Corporation is undoubtedly a welcome relief for citizens who were facing challenges due to the server outage. This measure will enable taxpayers to fulfill their obligations comfortably and without any undue stress.
