LUDHIANA: To reduce long queues at the MC suvidha centres, the MC authorities are planning to offer gifts or rewards to those who will pay taxes online. The senior officials claimed that they want to reduce cash payments to a large extent.
The officials said in the last financial year, the MC had received 30% (77,623 returns) tax returns through online mode, but they want to take the count to at least 1 lakh mark. From April 1, 2021, till March 31, 2022, the MC had received a total of 2.69 lakh returns through all means and 1.90 lakh returns were filed through suvidha centres and 1,685 returns through offline mode.
MC additional commissioner Aaditya Dachalwal said, “When MC had given gifts to tax payers who had paid highest tax or paid through digital mode, those preferring online mode had reached up to 65%. So, we are again tying up with the banks to start giving away gifts to those opting for digital payment.” He said they already have plans to get payments through G-8 books and for that, they may go ahead with single bill for property tax and water supply and sewerage charges.
In 2019, the MC used to organise a lucky draw and select 10 winners who would get attractive gifts. The draw was organised every month for people who used digital mode to pay their property tax, house tax or any other tax.
