The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has launched an extensive property tax recovery drive, issuing electronic demand notices to 2.75 lakh property owners for unpaid dues totaling over ₹786.86 crore. The civic body has warned that non-payment may lead to property attachment and distress sale of movable and immovable assets.
According to BBMP data, Mahadevapura tops the list with 65,040 defaulters, followed by South Bengaluru with 25,162 properties and the East zone accounting for 37,574 defaults. Bommanahalli has 45,293 defaulters, while Yelahanka, the West zone, and Rajarajeshwari Nagar have 28,022, 25,321, and 38,358 defaulters respectively. Dasarahalli recorded the lowest number of defaulters, with 11,172 properties yet to pay.
The BBMP’s special commissioner (revenue), Munish Moudgil, emphasized the importance of timely payment, stating, “Property tax is the civic body’s largest revenue source. Delays in payments directly affect BBMP’s ability to fund essential services, including road maintenance, waste management, and other public utilities.” The notices have been issued electronically, and defaulters can clear their dues online through the BBMP tax portal at bbmptax.karnataka.gov.in. Additionally, property owners have the option to submit appeals with valid reasons for non-payment via BBMPeNyaya.karnataka.gov.in.
The recovery measures outlined by BBMP include strict enforcement, with provisions for attachment of properties and distress sales for prolonged defaulters. Officials highlighted that 100% penalty on unpaid taxes is imposed only after two years of non-payment. For instance, property tax due for 2024-25 will not attract the full penalty immediately; a simple interest of 15% will be levied during 2025-26, with full penalties applying only if dues remain unpaid beyond April 1, 2026.
Historical data from BBMP indicates that approximately 2.5 lakh property owners have never paid property tax despite repeated notifications. The ongoing recovery drive aims to improve compliance and plug revenue leaks, ensuring the civic body can maintain and enhance Bengaluru’s infrastructure and public services.
For the fiscal year 2024-25, BBMP has so far collected ₹4,604 crore against a target of ₹5,210 crore, representing around 88.36% of the target. Officials hope that the current initiative will close the gap and further strengthen the civic body’s finances.
Experts note that property tax compliance remains critical in rapidly growing cities like Bengaluru, where municipal services are under pressure due to increasing population density and urban expansion. Non-payment not only hampers infrastructure development but also increases administrative burden and enforcement costs for the civic body.
The BBMP recovery drive, which combines electronic notifications with strict enforcement mechanisms, reflects a more data-driven approach to tax collection. By leveraging online portals and real-time tracking of defaulters, the civic body aims to improve efficiency and transparency in revenue collection.
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