Chennai, Aug 14:
The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has put its property tax reassessment exercise on hold with immediate effect following widespread public opposition to the steep revision in tax demands.
The decision was taken after consultations with the State government, civic body sources said.
In an official statement, the GCC said it had revised assessments of properties identified as being under-assessed and had received several grievance petitions seeking reconsideration.
With the reassessment put on hold, property tax amounts will revert to the rates prevailing before the latest exercise. For those who have already paid the revised demand, the excess amount will be adjusted as advance tax against subsequent half-year periods.
The GCC has around 14.5 lakh property taxpayers across its 15 zones. It had identified more than 3.5 lakh properties as having under-assessed or incorrect tax amounts, including around 1.5 lakh residential properties where owners had self-declared discrepancies.
The discrepancies were identified using GIS mapping, satellite data, official records and the self-declaration drive. However, the move drew sharp criticism after residents received revised demand notices showing substantial increases in their property tax.
Mayor R Priya and Deputy Mayor M Magesh Kumaar had said the reassessment exercise was carried out without consulting them.