Taxpayers make a beeline as the financial year begins
Taxpayers queue up at the Margao Municipal Council to pay taxes and fees in the new financial year, on Wednesday.
Photo Credits: Santosh Mirajkar
MARGAO
Margao Municipal Council’s coffers became richer by Rs 14 lakh through tax collections on the first day of the new financial year on Wednesday, as the civic body began implementing the hike in fees for trade licences and other services.
While the civic body earned revenue of Rs 8.02 lakh through house tax payments, revenue amounting to around Rs six lakh came from fees related to trade licences, signboards, etc.
The Municipal tax collection counter on the ground floor saw a beeline of taxpayers clearing their taxes and fees. Taxpayers were also seen approaching the taxation section to make changes in the trade licence fees.
A determined Margao civic body ensured that the hike in fees and taxes was implemented in full for the new year, as evident by the fact that those paying the trade licence fees were directed to the taxation section upstairs for an updated fee record. It was only after the taxation section made the necessary changes as per the notified trade licence fees that the tax counter started accepting payments.
Margao civic chief Damu Shirokdar has justified the hike in trade licence and other fees, saying the fees were long overdue. He stated that the council has not altered the house tax slab and no changes have been made to house tax rates.
“As far as the trade licence is concerned, the civic body has rationalised the fee depending on the size of the business establishment. There is no change in house tax rates. These changes were long overdue as successive councils had failed to implement the hike in fees. The opposition is blaming the council for the fee hike, but the hike is still lower compared to A-Class municipal bodies,” he said.
The MMC chairperson stated that payment of fees and taxes would be streamlined further from Thursday by setting up a help desk at the collection counter on the ground floor.
“Citizens who come to pay the trade licence will be informed before they stand in the queue to get their licence fees updated at the taxation section and then come down to make the payments. This will help clear the rush of citizens at the collection counter,” he added.
