When owning a property in Kolkata, the property tax is an important obligation administered by the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) that you must follow. You must pay the property tax to the KMC, irrespective of your property type, like residential, commercial, or industrial properties.
Hence, understanding the calculation and payment of property tax is necessary for avoiding any penalties. In this article, we will discuss the following
KMC Property Tax is the tax levied by the Kolkata Municipal Corporation on the real estate properties in Kolkata which serves as a key revenue source for essential local services such as waste management and infrastructure development. The tax applies to residential, commercial, industrial, institutional, and vacant properties, with the amount calculated based on the Annual Valuation (AV) of the property using a tiered structure.
In March 2017, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation passed the new Unit Area Assessment (UAA) scheme for KMC property tax calculation. It enables the property owners in Kolkata to calculate their property tax themselves. The following are some key pointers of the UAA scheme:
Base Unit Area Calculation
In the following table, the calculation of BUAV works for land comprising a building, covered space of a building or vacant land is illustrated:
Block Category | BUAV per sq.ft (in Rs) |
A | 74 |
B | 56 |
C | 42 |
D | 32 |
E | 24 |
F | 18 |
G | 13 |
Additionally, you should be aware that the Multiplicative Factors (MF) concept is used in the KMC property tax computation. Distinguishing between two residences within the same block can be beneficial. Therefore, changes in a number of variables, including the type of occupancy, the purpose for which the property is used, and the construction of the property, affect the BUAV.
Multiplicative Factors (MF)
You can check how the variation occurs on the basis of property location in the following table:
Property Location (Road Width) | MF |
≤ 2.5m | 0.6 |
>2.5 m but ≤ 3.5 m | 0.8 |
>3.5 m but ≤ 12 m | 1 |
>12 m | 1.2 |
The following table illustrates how the variation occurs on the basis of building age:
Building Age | MF |
> 20 years | 1 |
< 20 years > 50 years | 0.9 |
< 50 years | 0.8 |
In the following table, you can determine how the variation occurs on the basis of occupancy status:
Status of Occupancy | MF |
Property under tenant's occupation, tenancy ≤ 20 years used for non-residential purpose | 4 |
Property under tenant's occupation, tenancy ≤ 20 years used for residential purpose | 1.5 |
Property under tenant's occupation, tenancy > 20 years but ≤ 50 years, tenant not protected under West Bengal premises | 1.2 |
Property under tenant's occupation, tenancy > 20 years but ≤ 50 years, tenant protected under West Bengal premises | 1 |
Garage/parking space/fee | 4 |
Property under family owner's occupation | 1 |
Property under tenant's occupation, tenancy > 50 years old | 1 |
The following table portrays how the variation will occur on the basis of building usage:
Building Usage | MF |
Waterbody | 0.5 |
Residential use | 1 |
Health, educational institution, single-screen movie hall, hotel < 3-star, Bar | 3 |
3-star and 4-star hotels, ceremonial house | 4 |
Industrial/manufacturing, shop<250 sq. ft., Restaurant | 2 |
Multiplex, mall, commercial shops | 6 |
Night club, offsite ATM, tower, hoarding | 7 |
Office, bank, hotel 5-star or more | 5 |
Vacant land up to 5 katha not falling under the above categories | 2 |
Vacant land more than 5 katha | 8 |
In the following table, you can see how the variation works under the building structure:
Building | MF |
Residential building, plot size > 10 katha | 1.5 |
Property under tenant's occupation, tenancy ≤ 20 years used for residential purpose | 1.5 |
Pucca properties | 1 |
Special projects by IG, apartments with covered space > 2000 sq. ft. | 1.5 |
Open and covered parking spaces and garage | 0.8 |
Semi-pucca | 0.6 |
Kutcha | 0.5 |
Common area | 0.5 |
In addition, you can refer to the following table for tax variance with the property type:
Property Type | Tax Rate (%) |
Undeveloped slums | 6 |
Developed slums | 8 |
Government properties under KMC Act, 1980 | 10 |
Properties with annual value Rs.30, 000 | 15 |
Others | 20 |
As a property owner in Kolkata, you can use both online and offline modes for KMC property tax payments. The following are the steps to pay the property tax online.
Online Mode
Offline Mode
You can easily check the payment status of Kolkata Municipal Corporation by visiting its online portal. Follow this step-by-step guide for checking KMC property tax payment status:
After paying the Kolkata Municipal Corporation property tax online or offline, you must obtain the tax receipt. Here are a few steps you can follow to generate the tax receipt:
Online Mode
You can follow these simple steps for KMC property tax bill print online:
Offline Mode
On the other hand, if you want to generate the KMC property tax bill receipt offline, you must visit the Corporation’s office. After that, you must pay the tax amount and collect the receipt from the concerned authority.
On 1st August 2024, KMC administrators introduced a new waiver policy regarding the payment of property tax. The new policy states that defaulters who are behind payment of two years or less will receive a waiver of 99% of their fines and a 50% waiver of their interest.
In addition, the defaulters who are behind on property taxes for two to five years will receive a 75% waiver of fines and a 45% waiver on interest. Defaulters with property tax due for five to ten years will receive a waiver of 50% of their fines and a 40% waiver on interest. Lastly, defaulters with overdue property taxes for ten years and above will receive a 25% waiver on fines and a 35% waiver on the interest owed.
The KMC property tax calculation is easy, considering the above factors and using a simple formula. You can use the formula to calculate the KMC property tax:
Annual tax = BUAV x Covered space/Land area x Location MF value x Usage MF value x Age MF value x Structure MF value x Occupancy MF value x Rate of tax (including HB tax)
Where, HB stands for Howrah Bridge Tax, which applies to properties in the nearby wards. Moreover, you must check that the record is updated and there are no outstanding amounts against your account. If you notice any errors, you should report them to the concerned authorities.
If you are facing any problem while paying KMC property tax online property tax or its assessment. In that case, you can contact the KMC at the following address:
The Kolkata Municipal Corporation, 5, S.N. Banerjee Road, Kolkata 700 013, India, +91 33 2286-1000.
Moreover, you can contact the KMC call centre at 155360, 2226-9909 or 18003453375 between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. from Monday to Friday.
Henceforth, as a property owner in Kolkata, it is your civic obligation to pay the property tax. You must understand the tax calculation process and stay informed of the different KMC property tax components to avoid any penalties. In addition, you can go through this detailed guide to learn the multiple ways of paying KMC property tax. Whether you are a residential, commercial, or industrial property owner, the information provided in this article can help you fulfil your obligations while supporting the city's development and infrastructure.
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Property tax in Kolkata, administered by KMC, is essential for all property types. Calculation based on annual valuation using a tiered structure. UAA scheme divides Kolkata into categories for tax calculation.Includes BUAV, multiplicative factors, tax rates, and waiving policies. Payment methods and checking status available online and offline. Contact details for assistance.