Mangaluru City Corporation Hits Record High in Property Tax Revenue
In a significant financial milestone, the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) has announced its highest-ever property tax collection under the Self-Assessment Scheme (SAS) for the financial year 2025-26. Commissioner Ravichandra Naik revealed on Friday that the corporation collected a staggering Rs 149.6 crore, marking a substantial increase from previous years and exceeding the projected demand of Rs 112 crore.
Steady Growth in Tax Collections Over the Years
Naik highlighted the consistent upward trend in property tax revenues, noting that the MCC collected Rs 137 crore in 2024-25 and Rs 117 crore in 2023-24. This growth is attributed to enhanced compliance efforts and strategic initiatives aimed at broadening the tax base. The commissioner emphasized that these increased collections will empower the MCC to undertake more development works and improve civic amenities across the city.
Property Breakdown and Ward-Level Initiatives
Mangaluru, comprising 60 wards, boasts a total of 2,22,256 properties. This includes 1,75,724 residential units, 44,074 commercial properties, 1,175 industrial properties, and 1,283 non-residential or non-commercial properties. To boost tax compliance, the MCC launched a pilot project in three wards—Attavar, Hampankatta, and Padavu—involving physical inspections of properties. Teams of officials conducted field visits to verify property existence, identify new properties outside the tax net, and ensure accurate assessments.
Through these efforts, a sample survey in the three wards has already yielded an additional Rs 55.3 lakh in property tax, covering pending arrears and newly assessed properties. Naik stated, "Field visits helped the city corporation to verify the existence of properties, assess how many new properties have remained outside the property tax net, and enable the corporation to bring such properties under the purview of taxation."
Incentives and Future Revenue-Boosting Measures
To encourage timely payments, the MCC offers a 5% rebate on property tax for payments made on or before April 30. Naik appealed to citizens to avail this benefit and contribute to the city's development. Looking ahead, the corporation plans to introduce QR codes on all advertisements to prevent misuse and ensure proper permissions are obtained before installation. Additionally, a software platform will be developed to allow advertisers to book hoarding space and make online payments, further streamlining revenue collection processes.
These initiatives underscore the MCC's commitment to enhancing financial transparency and efficiency, setting a benchmark for urban governance in the region.
