The Ghaziabad Municipal Corporation (GMC) has provided significant relief to property owners by extending the deadline to avail of a substantial rebate on their tax payments. In a move aimed at easing the burden on residents, the civic body has pushed the last date for a 20% rebate from October 31 to December 31, 2025.
Revised Rebate Structure and Penalty Timeline
This extension is part of a phased reduction plan for the financial incentive. According to the new schedule, the generous 20% discount will remain in effect until the end of this year. From January 1, 2026, the rebate will be slashed to 10%, and this reduced rate will be available for one month only.
The concession will shrink further in the following two months. For the period of January and February 2026, the rebate will be a minimal 5%. The window for any discount will close completely after February. The GMC has made it clear that payments made after March 2026 will attract a penalty, with fines levied on defaulters.
Background: The Controversial Tax Hike and Legal Challenge
This marks the second time the GMC has extended the rebate deadline. The decision comes against the backdrop of a contentious hike in property tax rates, which is currently under judicial scrutiny. A case challenging the increase is pending in the Allahabad High Court, filed by former GMC councillor Rajendra Tyagi.
The disputed tax hike came into effect on April 1, 2025. However, following strong opposition from councillors, the GMC board repealed the new rates in June. Despite this repeal, the corporation continued to issue tax notices based on the higher slabs, prompting Tyagi's legal action.
Explaining the basis of the petition, Tyagi stated, "As per municipal rules, GMC can hike property tax once every two years. In FY 2023-24, the tax was increased by 10%, and for this financial year, it has been increased again, which is about three to four times higher. It was a violation of the rules, so I filed a case."
Revenue Targets and Consumer Impact
The extension is also a strategic move to boost revenue collection. The property tax net in Ghaziabad is vast, encompassing over 550,000 consumers. For the fiscal year 2025-26, the state government has set an ambitious target of Rs 600 crore for the GMC. Civic officials express hope of collecting at least 80% of this target. So far in the current financial year, the corporation has collected approximately Rs 160 crore under various property tax heads.
Mayor Sunita Dayal framed the deadline extension as a measure to provide relief. She emphasized that the move is intended to help consumers who have had to manage the financial strain of the increased property tax for this fiscal year.
The evolving situation leaves Ghaziabad's taxpayers at a crossroads: they can capitalize on the extended window for maximum savings or face diminishing benefits and potential penalties as the new year progresses. The final outcome now also hinges on the pending High Court verdict regarding the legality of the tax hike itself.
