What is property tax and how is it calculated…

When you buy a home, there several taxes that the purchase has to pay. While stamp duty and registration are one-time charges, the property tax is a recurring charge that the owner has to pay every year.

How do you calculate property tax

The owner of a property is liable to pay the tax levied by the local body (for example, the municipality) and such a tax is called the property tax. This tax may vary from one location to another and there are various other factors that determine the amount of property tax payable, such as:

• Location of the property.
• Size of the property.
• Whether the property is under-construction or ready-to-move.
• Gender of the property owner – there may be discounts for female owners.
• Age of the property owner – there may be discounts for senior citizens.
• Civic facilities provided by the municipal body in the locality.

Why do we have to pay property tax?

The local municipal body provides certain important services, like cleanliness in the area, water supply, maintenance of local roads, drainage and other civic facilities. Property tax allows the municipal bodies to get revenue, for funding all the services that it provides. It is one of the major sources of revenue for municipal bodies. If you do not pay property tax, then, the municipal body can refuse to provide the water connection or other services and it may also initiate legal action, to recover the due amount

Importance of paying property tax

Property tax is calculated, according to the recent property valuation conducted by the municipal body. Only the owner of the property is liable for paying the property tax. Hence, if you are a tenant, you need not be concerned about it.

In case of a property dispute, the property tax receipt plays a crucial role, to prove ownership of property. Consequently, when you buy a property, the title of the property should be updated in the municipal records. However, until all the outstanding arrears are cleared, the name cannot be transferred to the new buyers. If the record is not updated in the municipal records, then, the name of the previous owner will continue to show in the tax receipt.

While getting the property registered in your name at the local municipal records, you may be asked to provide documents to prove the ownership of the property. The list of documents that you may need to include, to get the property name updated, are the sale deed copy, clearance from the society, duly filled application, photo and address proof, copy of receipt of the last paid property tax, etc. A property tax receipt is also a key document, for availing of loans, such as a loan against property.

Hence, you must make the property tax payments on time and keep your records updated, at the local municipal bodies. Certain establishments, such as places of worship, government buildings, foreign embassies, etc., are usually exempted from the property tax. Clean land is also exempted from property tax charges.

Note: The links are taken from the websites of the respective authorities, as on August 8, 2017.

Source: Housing.com