Opposition councillors seek refund of excess tax collected by Kochi corporation

Kochi: Opposition councillors are demanding that Kochi corporation authorities return the increased tax collected prior to 2019 from taxpayers or adjust the sum in the tax to be paid next year. High court ordered that tax paid by 140 residents should be refunded, as there is no provision to seek sums prior to three years before the date of sending notice.

Following this order, opposition demanded that the increased tax collected from all taxpayers should be returned. "It was since 2022 that corporation authorities sent notices to taxpayers seeking an increased amount. As per norms, the tax can be collected from a maximum of three years before the date of issuing notice. But corporation authorities sought increased tax from 2016, whereas they could have sought revised tax from 2019. A total of 140 residents challenged the move before high court. Now, corporation authorities will have to give back the additional amount collected from 2016 to 140 taxpayers who challenged it before the court. Our demand is that corporation should give back the additional amount collected from all taxpayers," said opposition leader Antony Kureethara.