SAS woes tax Bangaloreans

SAS woes tax Bangaloreans

Officials, tax-payers cross words at help centres

Non-availability of booklets that will help in tax calculation and zone identification continued to dog help centres

Santhosh Kumar RB. Bangalore

Problems continued to dog property tax payers on Wednesday, the second day of the implementation of the new Self Assessment Scheme (SAS) of property taxation in Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) areas.
The BBMP help centres were completely at sea as they found it impossible to meet the demands of surging crowds.
Non-availability of SAS booklets that will help in tax calculation and zone identification was a common problem at all the help centres. Heated arguments between officials and tax-payers were the order of the day.
The number of tax-payers, however, was comparatively more than that on the first day at most of the centres.
Manoj, a resident, arrived at the help centre near Mayo Hall, covering areas under Shantinagar ward, to buy a booklet at 3.20 pm. But he got a reply that there was no stock. "The authorities should prepare themselves before starting such centres," he said.
The Palike staff at the centre said that they were helpless as the supply of booklets was not there and whatever they had got was over.
They further said that they sold around 100 forms on Wednesday. On the first day, they had sold only 50 forms. "It is difficult to convince people about the ground reality. Some people understand our problems and others start quarrelling. We are helpless till the supply of booklets and forms resumes," said an official.
And there was also confusion over identifying the right help centres. Residents of Langford Road had come to the Mayo Hall help center by mistake. "We were sent to this help centre by staff at the Shantinagar centre," Arif, a tax-payer said.
Staff at most other centres felt that the 5% tax rebate for early payments was the reason behind swirling crowds.
When contacted, Bangalore city in-charge minister R Ashok said he has been apprised of the problems being faced by the tax-payers in the city.
"I have directed BBMP commissioner Dr S Subramanya to address the problems within two days," he added.