Bengaluru residents to face higher property taxes from April 1, here’s why

Bengaluru residents may see an increase in their property taxes starting April 1, as the Karnataka government has approved a user fee for waste management. The charge, applicable to all domestic waste generators, will be added to existing property tax payments, potentially raising annual costs for homeowners.

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The fee, structured into six slabs, will be determined by building size. Residential units up to 600 sq ft will pay a minimum of ₹10 per month, while properties exceeding 4,000 sq ft will incur charges of up to ₹400 monthly. The move aims to fund door-to-door waste collection and disposal services across the city. Bulk waste generators, such as apartment complexes and large commercial establishments, will also be charged ₹12 per kilogram of waste if they lack an empaneled agency or in-house processing system.

Despite the introduction of the new fee, the existing Solid Waste Management (SWM) Cess—levied as part of the property tax to support public sanitation services—will remain unchanged. The Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Ltd (BSWML), which proposed the fee in November, estimates that revenue from the charges could exceed ₹600 crore annually.

The decision comes amid rising living costs and follows a recent fare hike in the city's metro system, raising concerns over the additional financial strain on residents. An official order on the implementation of the fee is yet to be issued.