In a bid to avail the 40% property tax rebate offered by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), eligible property taxpayers are required to submit the ‘PT-3 form,’ as per a recent decision by the state government. While the PMC has taken steps to facilitate this process, only 30% of the total taxpayers have submitted the necessary form as of now, out of a total of 3,50,000 taxpayers. The deadline for form submission is November 15, according to officials.
The PMC initiated efforts to streamline the process of obtaining the 40% property tax discount for citizens in June. This decision comes after the Maharashtra state government reinstated the discount, which had been discontinued in 2019, leading to public dissatisfaction.
The PMC has made the PT-3 application form available on its official website, enabling citizens to print it and submit it in person to the property inspector at the relevant zonal offices or citizen facilitation centers. A fee of ₹50 is also required to accompany the submission.
Ajeet Deshmukh, the head of the property tax department at PMC, stated, “We have urged all property taxpayers to submit the form, and thus far, we have received 75,000 forms over the past two months. The deadline for form submission is November 15.”
Deshmukh elaborated that taxpayers who submit the form after November 15 will not be eligible for a refund for the period spanning 2019 to 2023. Instead, they will be eligible for the 40% property tax rebate in the 2024 financial year, receiving a revised property tax bill reflecting the discount.
The 40% property tax rebate, which had been in effect since 1970, was discontinued in 2017, leading to arrears being levied on citizens for the period between 1970 and 2017. This decision sparked significant public outcry and backlash from political parties.
Moreover, the PMC had previously denied the 40% property tax rebate to residents of properties constructed on or after April 1, 2018, thus excluding them from the benefits. However, the PMC has now resolved to evenly distribute this tax adjustment in property tax bills. Following the submission of forms, the PMC will refund the 40% discounted amount over three years in property tax instalments.
As the deadline approaches, property taxpayers are encouraged to complete the PT-3 form submission process to secure the coveted 40% property tax rebate, ensuring that they maximize their savings and adhere to the stipulated timeline.
