Bengaluru property taxes face 100% penalty starting April

Bengaluru's municipal body, BBMP, will start charging a 100% penalty on unpaid property taxes from April 1. Property owners need to pay their outstanding taxes before March 31 to avoid this penalty and a 15% annual interest rate. The BBMP has collected 88.4% of its tax target so far, which amounts to Rs 4,604 crore. However, many properties still have unpaid dues. The areas with the most defaulters include Mahadevapura, East, and South zones. In a bid to recover unpaid taxes, BBMP is taking strict measures. This includes seizing and auctioning properties. They are serious about collecting taxes for the financial year 2024-25. Recently, the Karnataka government made changes to the BBMP Act, allowing penalties on arrears to be capped and reduced. However, this temporary relief will end on March 31. As the deadline approaches, BBMP is urging property owners to settle their taxes promptly to avoid harsher penalties and additional interest.