1. Property Tax in Karnataka
Directorate of Municipal Administration
Municipal Reforms Cell,
Directorate of Municipal Administration, Karnataka

2. Assessment of and liability to tax on Buildings and Land
Section 101 (1) of the Karnataka Municipalities Act, 1964 states: Unless exempted under this Act or any other law, property tax shall be levied every year on all buildings (or vacant land or both) situated within the municipal area.
Directorate of Municipal Administration

3. Property Tax on vacant land
An owner of one and half acres of vacant land situated in a locality having guideline market value of Rs 100 per square feet may easily calculate the property tax payable by him.
Area of the vacant land = square feet
Capital value = 65,34,000 rupees
Capital value of I slab = X 100 = lakh rupees
Property tax = X 100 = 1076 rupees
Capital value of II slab = ( ) X 100 = lakh rupees
Property tax = X 25 = 807 rupees
Capital value of III slab = X 100 = lakh rupees
Property tax on III slab = X 10 = rupees
Total property tax = ( ) = 2101 rupees
Directorate of Municipal Administration

4. Property Tax on Building
The calculation of property tax may be made simple using the following formula: -
Building Value = cost of erection of building x Plinth area of the building
Depreciation of building = Depreciation quotient based on age of building x Building Value
Capital value of land = Capital value of land per square feet x
Area of the land
Taxable capital value of building = Capital value of land +
Building Value –
Depreciation of building
Property tax = Rate of property tax x Taxable capital value of
building
Directorate of Municipal Administration

5. Method of Assessment of Property Tax
Section 102 (1) (2) of Karnataka Municipalities Act 1964 and Section 109 (1) (2) of Karnataka Municipal Corporation Act 1976 states:
The taxable capital value of the building shall be assessed together with the land occupied by it. The taxable capital value of such land shall be assessed having regard to the Market value guidelines of properties published under Section 45-B of the Karnataka Stamp Act The taxable capital value of the building shall be equivalent of 50% of the Market value guide lines of properties published under Section 45-B of the Karnataka Stamp Act 1957 minus depreciation* at the time of assessment as may be notified by the government from time to time.
Directorate of Municipal Administration

6. Method of Assessment of Property Tax
For Vacant Lands:
The taxable capital value of the vacant land shall be equivalent of 50% of the Market value guide lines of properties published under Section 45-B of the Karnataka Stamp Act 1957.
Directorate of Municipal Administration

7. Rebate for Self-occupied Building
Section 103 of Karnataka Municipalities Act 1964 and Section 109-A of Karnataka Municipal Corporation Act 1976:
A rebate at the rate of 50% of the Property Tax shall be allowed in respect of any residential building or part of a residential building which is for the self-occupied by owner of such building.
Directorate of Municipal Administration

8. *Depreciation at the Time of Assessment
Depreciation is allowed to the buildings up to sixty years old, as per standard rate depreciation for buildings as prescribed by the PWD, Government of Karnataka vide PWD Handbook vol 11 pages 55 and 56 of the edition 1958.
Directorate of Municipal Administration

9. Directorate of Municipal Administration
Property tax for Commercial Properties Section 101 (2)(a) of Karnataka Municipalities Act 1964 and Section 108 (2)(a) of Karnataka Municipal Corporation Act 1976.
Directorate of Municipal Administration
Population
Minimum Rate
Maximum Rate
< 1 Lakh Population
0.5%
0.9%
>1 Lakh Population 2%

10. Directorate of Municipal Administration
Property tax for Residential Properties Section (b) of Karnataka Municipalities Act 1964 and Section 108(2) (b) of Karnataka Municipal Corporation Act 1976
Directorate of Municipal Administration
Population
Minimum Rate
Maximum Rate
< 1 Lakh Population
0.3%
0.6%
>1 Lakh Population 1%

11. Property Tax for Vacant Lands
Section 101 (2) (c) (d) (e) of Karnataka Municipalities Act 1964 and Section 108 (2) (c) (i) (ii) (iii) of Karnataka Municipal Corporation Act 1976
Population(>one lakh)
Minimum Rate
Maximum Rate
< sq. ft (1000 sq m)
0.1%
0.2%
>= and < sq. ft (above 1000 sq m but less than 4000 sq m)
0.025%
0.05%
>= sq. ft (above 4000 sq. m)
0.01%
0.02%
Directorate of Municipal Administration

12. Directorate of Municipal Administration
Exemption
Section 101 (2-A) Karnataka Municipalities Act states:
No property tax shall be levied on a vacant land situated within the Municipal Council having a population of less than one lakh.
Directorate of Municipal Administration

13. Enhancement of Property Tax
Section 102A of Karnataka Municipalities Act 1964 and Section 109A of Karnataka Municipal Corporations Act 1976.
The Property Tax shall not be assessed each year thereafter but shall stand enhanced by 15% once in every three years commencing from the financial year :
Provided that the Municipal Council may enhance such Property Tax up to 30% once in three years and different rates of enhancement may be made to different areas and different classes of buildings and lands.
Provided further that the non-assessment of Property Tax under this section during the block period of three years, shall not be applicable to a building in respect of which, there is any addition, alteration or variation to it.
Directorate of Municipal Administration

14. Assessment of Property Tax
Section 105 (1) of Karnataka Municipalities Act 1964 and Section 112-A of Karnataka Municipal Corporation Act 1976 states:
Every owner or occupier who is liable to pay property tax under this Act shall submit every year to the Authorised Officer, a return in the prescribed form.
Provided that, if the owner or occupier who is liable to pay tax, files his returns and also pays the property tax which is due within one month from the date of commencement of each financial year (i.e. within 30th April of each year), shall be allowed a rebate of five percent on the tax payable by him.
Directorate of Municipal Administration

15. Directorate of Municipal Administration
Penalty
Section 105 (5) (a) (b) (c ) of Karnataka Municipalities Act 1964 and Section 112-A (5) (a) (b) (c ) of Karnataka Municipal Corporation Act 1976 states:
The Authorized Officer may also direct the owner or occupier to pay in addition to the tax assessed a penalty-
At the rate of 2% per month of the amount of property tax assessed and due in case of failure to pay amount of property tax due and to submit a return.
Not exceeding two times the amount of difference between the tax assessed and the tax paid along with his return in the case of submitting knowingly an incorrect or incomplete return.
Of Rs.100 in case of failure to submit return after payment of property tax in full.
Directorate of Municipal Administration

16. Levy of Penalty on Unlawful Building
Section 107 (1) (i) (ii) (iii) of Karnataka Municipalities Act 1964 and Section 112-C (1) (i) (ii) (iii) of Karnataka Municipal Corporations Act 1976 states:
Whoever unlawfully constructs or reconstructs any building or part a building -
On his land, without obtaining permission under this Act.
On a site belonging to him which is formed with out approval under the relevant law as prescribed under Town and Country Planning Act.
On his Land in breach of any provisions of this Act or Rule or Bye-law made there under.
Directorate of Municipal Administration

17. Levy of Penalty on Unlawful Building
The above mentioned acts attract the following penalties:
shall be liable to pay every year a penalty which shall be equal to twice the property tax leviable on such building,
so long as it remains as unlawful construction without prejudice any proceedings which may be instituted against him in respect of such unlawful construction,
provided that such levy and collection of penalty shall not be construed as regularization of such unlawful construction or reconstruction.
Directorate of Municipal Administration

18. Directorate of Municipal Administration
Thank you.
Directorate of Municipal Administration