Pune: 22,000 Property Owners Miss Tax Rebate Despite Filing PT3 Forms

Citizens express frustration over the delay in property tax concessions by the Pune Municipal Corporation.

In Pune, homeowners have faced significant difficulties with the local municipal corporation over property tax issues. Despite assurances and a mandated 40% tax discount reinstated in 2018, many residents claim they have not received these promised reductions.

The tax rebate, initially cancelled but reintroduced following a directive from the state government, was supposed to be applied starting in 2019. Eligibility for the discount required properties to be registered after April 1, 2019, based on a GIS survey. Property owners were instructed to submit a ‘PT 3’ form to avail of the concession. Despite fulfilling requirements, some residents receive full tax bills.

A resident expressed her dissatisfaction, stating, “Every year, we are told the discount will apply the following year, but nothing happens. We’re tired of the empty promises.” Another local, Ketan Mahajan, echoed this sentiment, “It feels unfair that we’re asked to pay more than our neighbours. The municipality should be transparent and either provide the discounts or explain why they can’t.”

Madhav Jagtap, head of the Revenue Collection Department at Pune Municipal Corporation, explained the situation, “The process of applying these discounts is ongoing. We are transitioning some processes offline due to system limitations. We assure the residents that once the issues are resolved, the discounts will be reflected in the next billing cycle.”

Residents, however, remain sceptical and frustrated. Nandan Sharma voiced the community’s feelings: “Every year, we go through the same tedious process of applying, only to face delays and excuses. The municipal corporation needs to either deliver on their promises or clearly state if they cannot provide the discounts.”

This ongoing issue has sparked widespread discontent among Pune’s property owners, prompting calls for overhauling the tax assessment and billing system to ensure fairness and transparency. The citizens argue that if the discounts are not applied as promised, they will refrain from paying the taxes in protest against the inefficiency and perceived injustice.