Chennai Corporation has strengthened its e-payment system of property tax payment through its website www.chennaicorporation.gov.in with introduction of multiple payment gateways.

In addition to the payment gateway managed by ICICI bank so far, the civic body roped in HDFC Bank last week. “More property tax assessees will be able to pay tax without payment of any transaction fee using multiple gateways,” said an official. Customers of 42 banks including those in the public and private sectors will be able to make payment through the two payment gateways now and subsequently more.

At least 16 per cent of the property tax assessees paid tax through Chennai Corporation website last year, sources said.

With the strengthening of the system, the number of assessees is expected to increase this year. Two more banks — IndusInd bank and IDBI bank — will also enable payment gateways shortly.

The civic body has stopped the services of the vendor managing the e-payment gateway to reduce burden on residents.

The vendor was collecting 1.75 percent transaction fee from each of the assessees.

Work on enabling multiple payment gateways is also expected to facilitate tax payment by NRIs who own commercial and residential properties in Chennai.

Corporation’s online system of property tax collection has frequently been disrupted in the past few years. Several residents who had been trying to remit tax had registered complaints with the civic body.

Online payment could be made by submitting zone number, division number, bill number and sub number online.

In addition to the payment gateway managed by ICICI bank so far, the civic body roped in HDFC Bank last week

Source The Hindu Chennai