During a meeting on Thursday, attended by Jammu and Kashmir chief secretary AK Mehta, the government clarified that individuals belonging to poor and marginalized communities, who own houses with a built-up area of up to 1,000 square feet, are exempt from paying property tax.
Rajesh Prasad, the principal secretary of the Jammu and Kashmir housing and urban development department, has confirmed that individuals owning houses with a built-up area of less than 1,000 square feet have no tax liability. He further added that all places of worship are also exempt from paying property tax.
According to Jammu municipal corporation commissioner Rahul Yadav, the property tax system is progressive in nature, with lower tax rates on smaller assets and linked to circle rates. The lower the circle rate, the lower the tax liability of the property owner. Yadav further stated that the tax system also considers the age of the property, usage type, and construction type to arrive at the Total Annual Value (TAV) for a realistic valuation of the property.
During the meeting, AK Mehta directed the officers to create awareness in their respective areas and develop a simple property tax calculator for different types of properties. He also urged them to address any misinformation that has been created among the public and involve elected representatives and civil society members in disseminating information about the property tax system.
On the other hand, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association and the Bar Association of Udhampur observed a pen-down strike on Thursday and strongly criticized the imposition of property tax, stating that the people of J&K are already facing financial distress due to the administration’s “wrong policies.”
