GCC Reassesses 3.5 Lakh Properties as Velachery Residents Seek Tax Clarity

The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) on Wednesday issued tax reassessment notices to 3.5 lakh properties across Chennai, including residences in AGS Colony in Velachery, following an extensive audit using GIS surveys and government records. Although the civic body clarified that there is no general increase in property tax rates, residents across neighbourhoods faced confusion and concern over sudden hikes in tax demands and a lack of clear calculation breakdowns in their reassessment notices.

The civic body identified under-assessed properties through drone-based GIS surveys, satellite data, self-declarations submitted by property owners, and records from departments such as Tangedco and GST. The reassessment notices cover 3.04 lakh residential properties, 19,339 commercial properties, and 25,768 mixed-use properties. Among the reassessed residential properties, 55 percent recorded a tax increase below ₹1,000, while 95 percent saw an increase under ₹5,000.

Corporation officials stated that most reassessed properties were reviewed by matching 2018 self-declarations with GIS data to uncover discrepancies, such as commercial operations running out of residential premises. Officials explained that the reassessment exercise had been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, elections, and a lack of clear policy decisions under the previous administration. The civic body clarified that it is currently seeking the applicable tax for the penultimate half-year based on the corrected assessment, rather than implementing a new rate hike.

Despite the explanation, property owners expressed frustration over how the revised amounts were calculated. Geetha Ganesh Karthick, a resident of AGS Colony in Velachery, had been paying ₹2,255 for a built-up area of 1,662 square feet, which included a 247-square-foot semi-permanent structure. Her latest notice listed the same built-up area but demanded arrears of ₹1,845 for the second half of 2025-26 alongside ₹4,100 for the current half-year, without detailing how the new figures were calculated. Similarly, LS Gopi from Anna Nagar saw his property tax jump from ₹8,710 to ₹11,635 despite no change in his property's built-up area.

Addressing these concerns, a revenue department official explained that the corporation had previously rolled back revised plinth area calculations in 2018 following public opposition, and is only implementing those updated measurements now. The GCC announced that property owners who detect errors or discrepancies can file an appeal with their concerned regional deputy commissioner within 15 days of receiving the notice, with appeals set to be resolved within 30 days.

The GCC confirmed that no penalties will be levied at this stage, and options to pay arrears in instalments could be considered. On Wednesday alone, the civic body received 30 objections via email and social media. Out of those, 13 property owners agreed to pay the revised amount after receiving detailed explanations, while the remaining residents requested a physical re-measurement of their properties.