Civic commissioner Naval Kishore Ram announced on Monday that the Pune Municipal Corporation has extended its property tax amnesty scheme. The new deadline is now February 16. This decision comes after the scheme originally ended on January 15.
Strong Response to Amnesty Scheme
PMC has collected approximately Rs 713 crore from tax defaulters over the past two months. Ram spoke to reporters after a Standing Committee meeting. He said the response to the scheme was good. However, factors like elections affected collections. The commissioner believes more property owners can benefit from this initiative. That is why the administration decided to grant an extension.
Historical Context and Current Figures
Among various amnesty schemes introduced in previous years, the highest collection was recorded in 2020–21. That year, Rs 485.67 crore was collected over a four-month period. In the current financial year, around 1.24 lakh property owners have already benefited. A total of Rs 2,557.95 crore has been deposited in municipal coffers through property tax collections so far this year.
Details of the Amnesty Scheme
The civic body launched the amnesty scheme for property tax defaulters. This move faced opposition from some citizen groups. According to the proposal, the scheme ran from November 15, 2025, to January 15, 2026. It offered a substantial 75% waiver on penalty amounts. Officials took this step because the standard 2% monthly compound-like penalty often exceeded the original tax amount.
Under the Maharashtra Municipal Corporation Act, a 2% monthly penalty applies if property tax is not paid by the deadline. Consequently, property tax arrears, including penalties, have accumulated to significant levels for many owners.
Upcoming Municipal Budget
Commissioner Ram also provided an update on the municipal budget for 2026–27. He stated that the administration is finalizing the budget. They are likely to present it by the end of this month. Ram added that the administration plans to provide training to newly elected members. This training will help them understand civic processes and responsibilities.
The extension of the amnesty scheme offers a final opportunity for property owners in Pune. They can clear their dues with reduced penalties before the new February 16 deadline.
