Mangaluru: Starting from the next financial year, Mangaluru City Corporation on Thursday, 22 December made a decision to increase the self assessment tax by 15 percent in a meeting. The opposition party corporators raised several arguments against the new hike in self assessment tax.

BJP Corporator Premananda Shetty mentioned that the underprivileged class of people will be affected by this revision. “The present tax slab should be maintained but the MCC should instead focus on ensuring timely payments of tax by all the citizens. This revision can lead to more tax evaders”, he added.

Mohammad Nazeer, the MCC Commissioner said that increasing the tax is the only way to get more income. He went on to say, “A mandatory revision of tax every three years is necessary as per the State Urban Development Department’s directions. Residents of the city accept the increase in tax as we did it earlier as well.”

Mayor of MCC, Harinath K mentioned that the hike in self assessment tax is being done as per the decisions of the government. “There is a provision to increase the same tax by 30 percent but MCC will hike it only by 15 percent”, he added.