HDMC extends 5% property tax rebate till May-end amid weak collections

Hubballi: The Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC) has extended the 5% rebate on property tax payments throughout May after collections fell short of expectations following a delayed start to the drive. The collection process, which was scheduled to begin on April 1, commenced only on April 7.Earlier, the corporation had announced the rebate for taxpayers clearing their dues for 2026-27 by April 30. However, with collections remaining lower than anticipated, the rebate period has now been extended till the end of May. HDMC has set a property tax collection target of Rs 235 crore for 2026-27 and has so far collected Rs 90 crore. Officials said the extension was aimed at boosting overall collections.An HDMC official said the corporation had set a property tax collection target of Rs 138 crore in 2023-24 and collected Rs 100.81 crore. In 2024-25, against a target of Rs 150 crore, it collected Rs 138 crore by the end of March. In 2025-26, HDMC exceeded its target of Rs 188 crore by collecting Rs 201 crore.HDMC commissioner Rudresh Ghali told TOI that as per the govt order, a 5% tax concession was offered till the end of April and has now been extended till May-end. He said a resolution to this effect was passed at the general meeting and appealed to residents to make use of the concession. "So far, Rs 90 crore has been collected. This year, the target is Rs 235 crore. With the 5% rebate continuing in May, we expect better collections," he said.Ghali also said GIS work will be provided free of cost in July and August. He expressed confidence that property tax collections will increase further next year, as properties that were previously left out will be brought under the tax net.