GMC Property Tax Settlement Scheme for 60,000 Defaulters

• 60,000+ property tax defaulters can benefit from the scheme.
• 12% annual penalty will be waived if eligible dues are paid in full.
• Around ₹120 crore in penalties is expected to be written off.

Ghaziabad: The Ghaziabad Municipal Corporation (GMC) has launched a one-time settlement scheme for more than 60,000 property tax defaulters, offering relief from accumulated penalty charges. Under the scheme, eligible property owners can have the 12% per annum penalty waived if they clear their outstanding property tax dues in full.

The scheme applies to property tax dues pending up to April 1, 2026. Defaulters must declare their intention to participate by November 14, while the settlement window will remain open until December 15. The move is aimed at encouraging long-pending taxpayers to clear their dues and improving the corporation’s revenue collection.

According to GMC officials, the scheme could result in the waiver of roughly ₹120 crore in accumulated penalties for the estimated 60,000 defaulters. The penalty relief is conditional on taxpayers paying their outstanding dues in full within the specified period.

Property tax collected by GMC includes charges related to house tax, water tax and sewer tax. The tax is imposed on properties falling within the municipal corporation’s jurisdiction, which covers around five lakh establishments.

Property tax rates also vary depending on the type of property and the width of the road on which it is located. For residential properties, the applicable rate is ₹3.40 per sq ft on roads wider than 24 metres, ₹2.81 per sq ft on roads measuring 12 to 24 metres, and ₹2.28 per sq ft on roads narrower than 12 metres.

A GMC official said that property tax defaulters who have not paid their dues up to April 1, 2026, can receive a waiver of the 12% annual penalty provided they settle the outstanding amount in full under the scheme.

The corporation expects the initiative to bring a significant portion of unpaid property tax into its revenue collection system while giving defaulters an opportunity to resolve their liabilities without the additional financial burden of accumulated penalties.

The settlement scheme could benefit thousands of property owners who have accumulated substantial penalties because of delayed tax payments. For GMC, recovering the principal tax amount could provide a major boost to municipal revenues.

The corporation collected ₹609 crore in total revenue during 2024-25, with property tax contributing around ₹340 crore. The latest initiative is therefore significant for strengthening tax collection and improving the corporation’s financial position.

Separately, the state government is also considering a proposal to reduce property tax rates for small and medium enterprises (SMEs). SME properties currently attract tax at around three times the residential rate, and the proposed change could bring their rates closer to those applicable to residential properties.

Property tax defaulters who want to take advantage of the settlement scheme will need to declare their intention by November 14 and pay their eligible outstanding dues in full by December 15 to receive the penalty waiver.

The scheme gives GMC an opportunity to recover long-pending dues while allowing property owners to settle their tax liabilities at a lower overall cost. Taxpayers should check their outstanding amount and applicable eligibility with GMC before making payment.

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