Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), is grappling with an alarming property tax shortfall, with over 3.49 lakh property owners defaulting on payments. The unpaid dues amount to a staggering Rs 390 crore, putting additional strain on the city’s finances and infrastructure development plans.
Of the total 20.5 lakh property owners in Bengaluru, a significant portion has either delayed or entirely avoided paying their dues. Among these defaulters, around 1.73 lakh are chronic offenders who have consistently evaded payments over multiple years, while 1.76 lakh have defaulted in the current fiscal year (2024-25). Despite several reminders, including notices, interactive voice response system (IVRS) calls, and legal attachment warnings, tax collection remains a persistent challenge. BBMP’s data highlights that the eastern zone, Mahadevapura, home to major IT hubs and high-value properties, leads in tax defaults, with 81,481 defaulters. The southern zone of Bommanahalli follows with 57,786 defaulters, while Rajarajeshwari Nagar records 47,873 cases of non-payment. In the northern zone, Yelahanka has 36,722 defaulters, and South Bengaluru reports 32,186 cases of unpaid taxes.
Authorities have clarified that penalties for non-payment are not immediate. A 15% simple interest is levied on unpaid taxes during the subsequent financial year. A full 100% penalty is imposed only after two years of default. For instance, if property owners fail to clear dues for 2024-25, penalties will not be enforced on April 1, 2025. However, if the dues remain unpaid beyond April 1, 2026, the penalty will be levied in addition to the interest. Further compounding the issue, BBMP data indicates that approximately 2.5 lakh property owners have never paid property taxes, contributing to the mounting revenue deficit. This persistent evasion has forced the municipal corporation to consider stricter enforcement measures to ensure compliance.
Despite these challenges, BBMP has managed to collect ₹4,604 crore in property taxes for the 2024-25 fiscal year, meeting 88.36% of its annual target of ₹5,210 crore. Yelahanka zone has shown the highest compliance, achieving 99% of its ₹445 crore target. In Mahadevapura, where both tax collections and defaults are the highest, ₹1,223 crore has been collected so far. Other major contributors include South Bengaluru, which secured 86% of its ₹664 crore goal, and East Bengaluru, including Whitefield, which met 86% of its ₹770 crore target. The western region of the city recorded an impressive 93% collection, amounting to ₹770 crore.
BBMP’s struggle with property tax collections underscores broader challenges in urban governance and revenue generation. While authorities are taking steps to improve enforcement, including legal action against chronic defaulters, efficient tax compliance remains crucial for sustainable urban development. The coming months will be critical in determining whether Bengaluru can bridge the tax collection gap and bolster its civic infrastructure without financial bottlenecks.
