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The Maharashtra state government is considering a proposal to exempt housing societies in metros from non-agriculture tax (NA). Revenue minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil has said that the request made by MLAs and housing federations for excluding NA tax is being examined, and a final decision will be made towards the end of the budget session.
The tax is applicable to societies that do not come under gaothan areas in the municipal corporation or council areas. The state housing federation members have demanded the scrapping of the tax, as many old societies were issued notices to pay huge sums. Of the nearly two lakh societies, only 10,000-15,000 in gaothan areas do not pay NA tax.
While currently there is a stay on the collection of NA tax from housing societies by the state government, the federation has demanded scrapping of the policy entirely. Landholders are being charged NA tax on an annual basis even after payment of one-time NA conversion tax.
Advocate Satya Muley has highlighted that the NA tax is resulting in discrimination of residential sites situated in proximity to each other or within the same village, town or city. Such discrimination is affecting the fundamental rights of equality guaranteed under the Constitution.
Suhas Patwardhan, vice-president of the Maharashtra State Cooperative Federation, has stated that the government wants to earn revenue, so it keeps revising NA tax and issues notices with retrospective effect. Patwardhan hopes that the tax will be scrapped completely.
The exclusion of non-agriculture tax would be a welcome relief for housing societies in the metros of Maharashtra. As the cost of living continues to rise, many residents are finding it increasingly difficult to make ends meet. The scrapping of the NA tax would provide much-needed relief to the residents and encourage more people to invest in housing societies in Maharashtra.
In addition, the scrapping of NA tax would also help to promote equality among the residents of the state. Currently, the tax is resulting in discrimination against residential sites located in proximity to each other or within the same village, town, or city. This discrimination is affecting the fundamental rights of equality guaranteed under the Constitution.
Overall, the Maharashtra state government's decision to consider the exclusion of NA tax for housing societies in metros is a step in the right direction. The government must continue to work towards promoting equality among the residents of the state, and the scrapping of NA tax would be a significant step in this direction. As the decision is awaited, residents of the housing societies in Maharashtra remain hopeful for a positive outcome.
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