Vijayawada Municipal Corporation posts Rs 267 crore tax collection in FY26

Vijayawada: The Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) has netted an overall tax collection of Rs 267.10 crore for the just-concluded 2025-26 financial year. The tax collection witnessed a Rs 15 crore jump when compared to the corresponding period, which was Rs 252 crore in the 2024-25 financial year.The city has a total of 2.27 lakh property tax and 14,575 vacant land tax (VLT) assessments, with the current demand standing at Rs 172.60 crore for property tax assessments and Rs 22.98 crore for the VLT assessments.Further, the total demand across property tax and vacant land tax, including arrears, stood at Rs 454.00 crore, out of which Rs 226.28 crore was collected during the financial year.According to the Revenue DCB (demand, Collection, Balance) abstract report, the data indicates a mixed performance in tax collection across categories, with overall collection efficiency standing at 30.13%.Of all the components, the highest percentage of collection, ie 75% of the demand, is collected in the category of private property tax. Out of Rs 228 crore demand, Rs 170 crore was collected by the end of March 31.According to VMC addition commissioner (Revenue) G Srujana, the civic body was able to improve the tax collection due to continuous efforts in tracing the vacant land tax (VLT) owners by formation of VLT committee, including placing of boards and property seizure flex banners on vacant lands, collection of vacant land tax improved to Rs 25.26 crore compared to Rs 19.41 crore of the 2024-25 financial year.The deputy commissioner further said lawful actions such as disconnection of water and underground drainage services, and seizure of commercial properties. The above actions resulted in improving revenue collection.The deputy commissioner further said with the same spirit, the target for the 2026-27 financial year is set at 90% of the demand of the total collection demand.