Land tax filing for Sarpang Tar residents in Sarpang has become confusing. It surprised a few residents when the online land tax payment system recently refused to accept rural land tax. They said it’s unfair that they are charged with urban land tax when the area has yet to see any developmental activities.
The residents were exempted from paying urban land tax as per the decisions taken in the past Dzongkhag Tshogdu sessions. Sarbang Tar was identified as a satellite town in 2010.
They said for the past 15 years, they have been denied approvals to construct houses due to issues with the local area plan. And this they said has affected the development in the area.
“If all the required urban facilities are in place, the public has no objection to paying tax at the urban rate. But at present, people aren’t allowed to build even small structures. It has been 15 years since the construction was banned and we haven’t seen any developmental activities,” said Dilip Gurung, a resident of Sarpang Tar.
“Constructions are banned and we are not even allowed to construct garages for parking our vehicles. All the existing structures are old and we are not allowed to add any new structures,” said Kinley Gyeltshen, another resident.
The issue was also discussed in the recent Dzongkhag Tshogdu. During the session, the members agreed to write to the National Land Commission Secretariat to consider the rural rate until all the required urban amenities and facilities are put in place. They have yet to receive a response.
“As per the town area plan, the Sarpang Tar area has been identified as a town area. But there’s no clarity on whether people should pay urban or rural land taxes. When people have to make a payment, they have to do it online. And while doing so, they have to pay the revised rates. And there’s a huge difference between urban and rural taxes,” said Shompangkha Gup, Suk Dorji Yonzon.
Today, the rural land tax for an acre of land in Sarpang Tar is Nu 12.
With no clear directive, the 100 thram holders are worried that they will have to pay urban land tax for the facilities and development they have yet to see.
Karma Wangdi, Gelephu
Edited by Sonam Pem
