AAP-led MCD announces house tax waiver for Delhi residents

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has introduced a house-tax waiver scheme, allowing residents to clear their 2024-25 dues while having all previous pending taxes written off.

Announced at a press conference on Monday, the scheme was unveiled by MCD Mayor Mahesh Khichi, Deputy Mayor Ravinder Bhardwaj, Leader of the House Mukesh Goel, and senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh. The proposal, aimed at reducing financial stress on citizens and curbing corruption in tax collection, is expected to be passed in the MCD House on Tuesday.

Under the new scheme, properties up to 100 square yards, including residential shops, will be fully exempt from house tax starting next financial year. Houses between 100 and 500 square yards will get a 50% waiver, while 1,300 housing societies that previously did not qualify for exemptions will now receive a 25% rebate.

Mayor Khichi stated that the AAP-led administration remains committed to fulfilling its promises, calling the tax waiver a significant relief for homeowners. Additionally, he highlighted MCD’s initiative to regularise 12,000 contractual employees, following the permanent appointment of 8,000 workers in the past two years.

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Emphasising the benefits of the scheme, Sanjay Singh said the decision aligns with AAP’s ongoing efforts to support the common man. He termed the move historic, particularly noting that 1,300 housing societies, previously excluded from any exemptions, would now enjoy tax relief for the first time.

AAP’s MCD in-charge Durgesh Pathak pointed out that past administrations had used house tax as a tool for extracting bribes, leading to financial losses for the civic body. He stressed that the scheme would not only bring relief to residents but also enhance transparency in tax collection, putting an end to corruption.

Pathak also credited improved financial management under AAP’s governance for ensuring timely salary payments to MCD employees, contrasting it with earlier administrations where salaries were frequently delayed.

(With inputs from PTI)