Only 60% property tax collected, GBA faces revenue pressure with 30 days to go

With just a month left before the financial year ends, Greater Bengaluru Authority struggles to meet its ₹6,700 crore property tax target as collections remain far behind schedule.

With only 30 days remaining for the close of the 2025-26 financial year, the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) is facing serious pressure to meet its ambitious property tax collection target. Of the total target of ₹6,700 crore, the civic body has managed to collect only ₹3,926 crore so far, which is just around 60 per cent.

The current collection is also lower compared to the same period last year. At this time in 2024, the civic administration had already collected ₹4,537 crore. The shortfall has raised concerns within the administration, prompting urgent measures to boost tax recovery before the March 31 deadline.

To accelerate collections, GBA has fixed weekly revenue targets for each of the five newly formed city corporations. Among them, the Bengaluru East City Corporation (BECC) carries the highest target of ₹1,673 crore. However, as of February 21, it has collected only ₹1,017 crore. Officials confirmed that BECC has now been directed to collect over ₹100 crore every week until the end of March.

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An official from GBA stated that BECC is currently the only corporation that has crossed the ₹1,000 crore mark, while the remaining four corporations are significantly behind their respective targets, despite aggressive recovery measures, including property auctions.

Bengaluru North City Corporation (BNCC) has collected ₹656 crore against a target of ₹1,242 crore. Bengaluru Central City Corporation has achieved ₹729 crore of its ₹1,273 crore target. Bengaluru South City Corporation has collected ₹755 crore out of ₹1,228 crore, while Bengaluru West City Corporation has managed ₹768 crore against a target of ₹1,281 crore.

Officials said that property tax payments usually see a sharp rise during February and March, as property owners rush to avoid penalties and legal action. In the financial year 2023–24, the then BBMP had collected ₹3,918 crore. The following year, 2024–25, saw a record collection of ₹4,930 crore. Authorities are hopeful that a similar surge will occur this March.

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To recover long-pending dues, GBA has also intensified the auction of defaulting properties. Responding to criticism that smaller property owners are being targeted, officials clarified that the recovery process applies equally to all defaulters, irrespective of property size or value.

With just weeks left, the coming days will be crucial for GBA to bridge the revenue gap and achieve its year-end financial goals.