In a major technology-led enforcement push, Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) has detected property tax evasion worth Rs 318 crore across 13,600 properties during the second phase of its digital revision exercise.
With this round, total recovery notices issued across two drives have reached Rs 688 crore, covering approximately 23,600 properties, according to officials. The exercise marks one of the largest data-backed property tax audits undertaken by an Indian municipal body. The initiative, led by GBA’s IT wing in collaboration with the National Informatics Centre (NIC), integrates house-to-house GPS mapping, drone imagery, and backend analytics to verify discrepancies between declared property details and actual built-up areas or usage patterns. Officials said around 67,000 show-cause notices have been generated in the latest round effectively one per assessment year since many properties were found to have underpaid taxes for an average of five years. Notices have been served through SMS and IVRS channels, with property owners given 15 days to respond or appeal online. Zone-wise data shows the West Corporation recorded the highest number of notices. A total of 36,055 notices were issued across 7,242 properties, with penalties amounting to about Rs 50.05 crore. The North Corporation followed, issuing 15,592 notices across 3,227 properties, with penalties of Rs 19.09 crore. In the South Corporation, 8,611 notices were issued across 1,763 properties.
While the number of notices was lower than North, the penalty amount was significantly higher, indicating larger per-property discrepancies. The Central Corporation issued 5,438 notices across 1,038 properties, amounting to Rs 10.80 crore in penalties. The East Corporation recorded the lowest numbers, with 1,789 notices across 372 properties and penalties of Rs 8.24 crore. Under the revised framework, survey teams visit properties with a mobile application containing existing tax records. During site visits, officials capture GPS coordinates, assess actual usage (residential, commercial or mixed), record built-up area and number of floors, and upload real-time data to a central system. A backend quality control team conducts 100% verification. Inconsistencies are sent back for field revalidation. Once validated, the data is cross-checked against high-resolution drone imagery and digitised built-up area maps. If the constructed area exceeds declared dimensions or if commercial usage is undisclosed, the system automatically triggers show-cause notices demanding payment of evaded tax along with interest and penalties. Urban finance experts say such tech-enabled audits could significantly enhance municipal revenue buoyancy without raising tax rates.
As Bengaluru expands vertically and horizontally, data-driven compliance mechanisms may become central to sustaining civic infrastructure funding. The GBA’s enforcement drive signals a shift from complaint-based detection to algorithm-led scrutiny potentially setting a template for other urban local bodies across India grappling with property tax leakages.
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Tech Audit Flags 13,600 Properties in Bengaluru
