The civic administration of India's software capital hasn't been able to fix problems on its website for more than a year.
Citizens trying to pay property tax online are frustrated by software bugs, and are cursing the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike for wasting their time. On April 1, the BBMP published advertisements announcing a 5% discount for citizens paying their dues by April 30. But it turns out its website is not ready with the latest data, and software problems plague operations. Complaints are pouring in from furious citizens. People who paid excess property tax last year are badly affected.
In 2016, BBMP hiked tax. It claimed the increase was just 25%, but in some cases, it was 75% to 120% because of reclassified taxation zones.
Many did not pay their dues in April 2016, annoyed by the software, and also anticipating a rollback in rates. But a good number did pay up. The BBMPthen said the excess would be adjusted against this year's dues. But it isn't keeping its word.
Perplexing numbers
Arun Batra, a resident of Marathahalli, had cleared his dues on April 23, 2016.
"Earlier, Rs 4,000 was my property tax. Because of the hike and zonal reclassification, Ipaid Rs 5,800 last year," he told DH.
'Go meet revenue official'
BBMP Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) Prasanna Kumar has received many complaints. His solution annoys time-strapped citizens: approach the assistant revenue officer and sort out the problem.
Arun Batra, who has been trying to get last year's excess payment adjusted against his dues this year, said, "This is a typical bureaucratic way of functioning. Instead of rewarding taxpayers, they punish us."
Days later, the BBMPwithdrew its zonal reclassification and brought down the hike to just 25%.
When Batra checked, officials told him he had paid Rs 800 more; they promised to adjust the excess against his next payment. On Tuesday, when he tried to pay tax online, he realised his data had not been updated.
"If I have paid Rs 800 extra, and my tax is Rs 5,000, the amount payable is Rs 4,200. But the software says Imust pay Rs 5,300. This is ridiculous," Batra said.
Rudrappa, a resident of Jnanabharathi, and Vaidehi S, who lives in Kengeri, also encountered
problems when they went online to pay their dues.
![]( "Many did not pay their dues in April 2016, annoyed by the software, and also anticipating a rollback in rates. But a good number did pay up. File Photo")
The civic administration of India’s software capital hasn’t been able to fix problems on its website for more than a year.
Citizens trying to pay property tax online are frustrated by software bugs, and are cursing the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike for wasting their time. On April 1, the BBMP published advertisements announcing a 5% discount for citizens paying their dues by April 30. But it turns out its website is not ready with the latest data, and software problems plague operations. Complaints are pouring in from furious citizens. People who paid excess property tax last year are badly affected.
In 2016, BBMP hiked tax. It claimed the increase was just 25%, but in some cases, it was 75% to 120% because of reclassified taxation zones.
Many did not pay their dues in April 2016, annoyed by the software, and also anticipating a rollback in rates. But a good number did pay up. The BBMP then said the excess would be adjusted against this year’s dues. But it isn’t keeping its word.
Perplexing numbers
Arun Batra, a resident of Marathahalli, had cleared his dues on April 23, 2016.
"Earlier, Rs 4,000 was my property tax. Because of the hike and zonal reclassification, I paid Rs 5,800 last year,” he told DH.
'Go meet revenue official’
BBMP Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) Prasanna Kumar has received many complaints. His solution annoys time-strapped citizens: approach the assistant revenue officer and sort out the problem.
Arun Batra, who has been trying to get last year’s excess payment adjusted against his dues this year, said, "This is a typical bureaucratic way of functioning. Instead of rewarding taxpayers, they punish us.”
Days later, the BBMP withdrew its zonal reclassification and brought down the hike to just 25%.
When Batra checked, officials told him he had paid Rs 800 more; they promised to adjust the excess against his next payment. On Tuesday, when he tried to pay tax online, he realised his data had not been updated.
"If I have paid Rs 800 extra, and my tax is Rs 5,000, the amount payable is Rs 4,200. But the software says I must pay Rs 5,300. This is ridiculous,” Batra said.
Rudrappa, a resident of Jnanabharathi, and Vaidehi S, who lives in Kengeri, also encountered
problems when they went online to pay their dues.
Citizens trying to pay property tax online are frustrated by software bugs, and are cursing the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike for wasting their time. On April 1, the BBMP published advertisements announcing a 5% discount for citizens paying their dues by April 30. But it turns out its website is not ready with the latest data, and software problems plague operations. Complaints are pouring in from furious citizens. People who paid excess property tax last year are badly affected.
In 2016, BBMP hiked tax. It claimed the increase was just 25%, but in some cases, it was 75% to 120% because of reclassified taxation zones.
Many did not pay their dues in April 2016, annoyed by the software, and also anticipating a rollback in rates. But a good number did pay up. The BBMPthen said the excess would be adjusted against this year's dues. But it isn't keeping its word.
Perplexing numbers
Arun Batra, a resident of Marathahalli, had cleared his dues on April 23, 2016.
"Earlier, Rs 4,000 was my property tax. Because of the hike and zonal reclassification, Ipaid Rs 5,800 last year," he told DH.
'Go meet revenue official'
BBMP Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) Prasanna Kumar has received many complaints. His solution annoys time-strapped citizens: approach the assistant revenue officer and sort out the problem.
Arun Batra, who has been trying to get last year's excess payment adjusted against his dues this year, said, "This is a typical bureaucratic way of functioning. Instead of rewarding taxpayers, they punish us."
Days later, the BBMPwithdrew its zonal reclassification and brought down the hike to just 25%.
When Batra checked, officials told him he had paid Rs 800 more; they promised to adjust the excess against his next payment. On Tuesday, when he tried to pay tax online, he realised his data had not been updated.
"If I have paid Rs 800 extra, and my tax is Rs 5,000, the amount payable is Rs 4,200. But the software says Imust pay Rs 5,300. This is ridiculous," Batra said.
Rudrappa, a resident of Jnanabharathi, and Vaidehi S, who lives in Kengeri, also encountered
problems when they went online to pay their dues.
The civic administration of India’s software capital hasn’t been able to fix problems on its website for more than a year.Citizens trying to pay property tax online are frustrated by software bugs, and are cursing the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike for wasting their time. On April 1, the BBMP published advertisements announcing a 5% discount for citizens paying their dues by April 30. But it turns out its website is not ready with the latest data, and software problems plague operations. Complaints are pouring in from furious citizens. People who paid excess property tax last year are badly affected.
In 2016, BBMP hiked tax. It claimed the increase was just 25%, but in some cases, it was 75% to 120% because of reclassified taxation zones.
Many did not pay their dues in April 2016, annoyed by the software, and also anticipating a rollback in rates. But a good number did pay up. The BBMP then said the excess would be adjusted against this year’s dues. But it isn’t keeping its word.
Perplexing numbers
Arun Batra, a resident of Marathahalli, had cleared his dues on April 23, 2016.
"Earlier, Rs 4,000 was my property tax. Because of the hike and zonal reclassification, I paid Rs 5,800 last year,” he told DH.
'Go meet revenue official’
BBMP Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) Prasanna Kumar has received many complaints. His solution annoys time-strapped citizens: approach the assistant revenue officer and sort out the problem.
Arun Batra, who has been trying to get last year’s excess payment adjusted against his dues this year, said, "This is a typical bureaucratic way of functioning. Instead of rewarding taxpayers, they punish us.”
Days later, the BBMP withdrew its zonal reclassification and brought down the hike to just 25%.
When Batra checked, officials told him he had paid Rs 800 more; they promised to adjust the excess against his next payment. On Tuesday, when he tried to pay tax online, he realised his data had not been updated.
"If I have paid Rs 800 extra, and my tax is Rs 5,000, the amount payable is Rs 4,200. But the software says I must pay Rs 5,300. This is ridiculous,” Batra said.
Rudrappa, a resident of Jnanabharathi, and Vaidehi S, who lives in Kengeri, also encountered
problems when they went online to pay their dues.