NEW DELHI: The Government of Punjab has urged property owners across the state to make use of the final opportunity under its One Time Settlement (OTS) Scheme to clear pending property tax dues without penalty or interest by August 31st.
Launched on April 1 this year, the OTS scheme was designed to provide relief to taxpayers while boosting civic revenues for Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), which depend heavily on property tax for essential services like sanitation, public health, solid waste management and infrastructure development.
The window has already been extended twice, enabling maximum citizens to benefit. So far, collections under the scheme have crossed ₹250 crore.
However, officials noted that a significant portion of dues remains unpaid, especially from medium and large commercial and industrial properties.
Out of nearly 1.8 lakh commercial and industrial properties, around 1.1 lakh remain in default, with dues of nearly ₹580 crore still pending. A large share—approximately ₹200 crore—is owed by big commercial establishments in Punjab’s 13 municipal corporations.
“The government has provided ample opportunity over the last four months for property owners to clear their dues without penalty. We urge all remaining taxpayers to take advantage of this final chance, as enforcement action will begin only after the OTS window closes,” an official spokesperson said.
To facilitate compliance, the state government has announced that all Suvidha Kendras in Punjab will remain open on weekends—August 23–24 and 30–31—in addition to regular working days, allowing residents to conveniently settle their dues.
Officials further clarified that the scheme will not be extended beyond August 31. From September 1, 2025, Urban Local Bodies will initiate enforcement measures against defaulters to ensure fairness for those who have already paid their taxes.
Reiterating its commitment to citizen welfare and urban development, the Punjab Government emphasized that timely tax compliance would strengthen civic bodies and improve services. “This is not just about revenue collection, it is about strengthening our cities and ensuring better civic services for all,” the spokesperson added.
