Sanchaya Tax: How To Pay Property Tax Online in Kerala?

The Government of Kerala launched the Revenue and Licence System ‘Sanchaya’, an e-governance application software, to digitise property-related services such as Sanchaya tax payment, property tax assessment, ownership certificates, profession tax, building and land rent, trade licences, and other revenue-related services.

Sanchaya was developed by the Information Kerala Mission (IKM) to manage property tax, profession tax, building and land rent, trade licences and other local body revenues. Subsequently, the Kerala Government launched KSMART, new single-window platform to deliver Sanchaya services. Thus, many services, including Sanchaya tax payment services, have been migrated from the legacy Sanchaya portal to KSMART.

Sanchaya and KSMART Portal Services

KSMART (Kerala - Solution for Managing Administrative Reformation and Transformation) integrates and delivers many services that were previously available through the Sanchaya portal. Thus, citizens of Kerala state can access Sanchaya tax services from KSMART. 

The Sanchaya portal continues to support certain revenue and licence-related services, while local bodies gradually transition to KSMART. Citizens may access the following services through Sanchaya or KSMART:

• Property tax assessment and calculation
• Property tax search and verification
• Online property tax payment
• Property tax payment status tracking
• Building ownership certificate services
• Building age certificate services
• Profession tax services
• Trade licence and licence renewal services
• D&O licence services
• Access to local body revenue records

Note: Many Municipalities and Corporations have shifted property tax and citizen services to KSMART. Taxpayers should check their local body's portal to determine whether services are available through Sanchaya or KSMART.

Sanchaya Tax

The Kerala Building Tax Rules govern the calculation of property and building taxes in Kerala. These rules determine the amount of tax to be paid for a property or building situated in Kerala based on various factors, such as the property’s location, use, and size. 

Property or building owners can pay taxes online on the KSMART (previously Sanchaya tax) portal. According to the Kerala Building Tax Rules, property taxes are calculated annually. To avoid penalties, the property owner must pay the Sanchaya building/property tax on or before the due date. 

In addition to the property tax, there is a luxury tax for buildings in Kerala. The property tax is imposed on luxury properties, such as large houses with amenities and multiple rooms. The luxury tax is based on the property’s market value and must be paid in addition to the regular property tax. The tax collected is used to fund various local government services, such as maintenance, infrastructure development and repair.

How to Pay Property Tax Online from Sanchaya?

The Sanchaya property tax payment service can be accessed via newly launched KSMART portal which integrates Sanchaya portal services. Users can pay property tax through the Quick Pay facility and by logging in to the portal.

Through the Sanchaya (now KSMART) Quick Pay facility

Users can pay tax through the KSMART Quick Pay facility as a guest without logging into the portal by following the below steps:

Step 1: Go to the KSMART (previously Sanchaya) portal. 

Step 2: Click the ‘Property Tax Quick Pay’ option. 

Step 3: Fill in the details like district name, local body type, local body name, ward year and ward, door or sub number.

Step 4: Click the ‘Search’ button.

Step 5: The building/property details and pending demand will be displayed on the screen.

Step 6: Select the ‘Payment Period’, enter the mobile number and click the ‘Pay Now’ button.

Step 7: Make the online payment using a credit card, debit card, net banking, UPI, RTGS, NEFT, mobile wallet, etc.

Through the Sanchaya (Now KSMART) Portal Login

Users can pay the Sanchaya property tax online by logging into the KSMART (previously Sanchaya) portal through the below steps:

Step 1: Go to the KSMART (previously Sanchaya) portal. 

Step 2: Click ‘Register’, choose ‘Citizen Registration’ and provide the required details to register and log in to the portal.

Step 3: Once logged in, click on ‘New Application’ and select ‘Property Tax’ option.

Step 4: Click on ‘Tax Payments’ and select ‘Pay Tax by Search’.

Step 5: Fill in the details like district name, local body type, local body name, ward year and ward, door or sub number and click ‘Search’.

Step 6: The building/property details and pending demand will be displayed on the screen.

Step 7: Select the ‘Payment Period’, enter the mobile number and click the ‘Pay Now’ button.

Step 8: Make the online payment using a credit card, debit card, net banking, UPI, RTGS, NEFT, mobile wallet, etc. 

How to View Tax Receipts in Sanchaya?

Below is the process to view receipts of the property tax paid on the KSMART (previously Sanchaya) portal:

• Visit the KSMART portal.
• Click on ‘Download Receipt’ tab.
• Enter the mobile number and click ‘Get OTP’.
• Enter the OTP to view and download property tax payment receipts.

Sanchaya Ownership Certificate

The KSMART (previously Sanchaya) ownership certificate in Kerala is an essential document for landowners. The government provides an ownership certificate containing the owner’s name. It also mentions if the owner has a leasehold or freehold right in the land. Below is the process to get the ownership certificate on the KSMART (previously Sanchaya) portal:

• Visit the KSMART (Sanchaya) portal.
• Click on ‘Building Certificate’ or ‘Residence Certificates’ tab.
• View the building or residence details and click on the icon under ‘Action’.
• Preview the building or residence details, complete the declaration and enter the OTP and submit.
• The building or residence certificate will be initiated.
• Once it is approved by the officials, click on the icon under action and click ‘Download Certificate’.
• The ownership certificate will be downloaded.

The Sanchaya (now KSMART) portal provides online services to citizens of Kerala for easy and convenient payment of property taxes or building taxes in Kerala. Users can also search property tax from the plinth area, view ownership and building age certificates and access several other property-related services online on the KSMART portal.