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Rajasthan Government introduces new urban development tax

JAIPUR: The Rajasthan Government has introduced a new property tax in urban areas of the State, replacing the house tax that was abolished early this year. A notification issued here on Wednesday night imposed the urban development tax on the house and flat owners and others with immediate effect.

The tax will be levied on houses, unutilised land except agricultural land, and constructed areas in premises under the jurisdiction of all Municipal Corporations, Municipal Councils and municipalities. The notification was issued under Section 104 of the Rajasthan Municipality Act, 1959.

Though the abolition of house tax was one of the promises made in the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party’s manifesto during the 2003 Rajasthan Assembly elections, the State Government took more than three years to do away with the tax. The opposition Congress has termed the imposition of the new tax as a ploy to deceive the people.

Even as the Congress is planning to oppose any move to impose the urban development tax, official sources said it would be levied on residential plots of more than 300 square yards, flats measuring over 1,500 square feet and commercial plots of over 100 square yards.

The tax will be calculated on the basis of the District Level Committee (DLC) rate taking into account the total area of land and the built-up area. The tax assessment will be done in every calendar year.

According to the notification, the tax will be applicable to budget hotels; one, two and three star hotels; guest houses; all Central Government properties used for commercial purpose as well as the public sector undertakings, corporations and Boards.

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