[neil.jericho]

Got an update on FB that the RTO officials were checking today at HSR layout, just after Agara junction and towards Silk Board.

[fundagenie]

Originally Posted by tsk1979

Can't all suffering residents of Bangalore visit the govt headquarters or something and give a petition. A 1000 people going there and giving a petition will show the govt that many people are suffering?

Originally Posted by swiftnfurious

Two reasons which I can think of.

1. Lack of direction / knowledge of what to do.
2. "Someone please take a step and am right behind you" thoughts.

Agree to your points. But getting 10 people together itself is a task, forget 1000. Also every state has this rule in one way or another and we all are bound to follow it. Hence giving a petition might not work in this case as that would put the out-station car owners on the wrong side trying to get some benefits.
And am sure that is not exactly what we want.

I would suggest getting the help of some lawyer who knows the legalities and get a stay to the current rule or a possibility of atleast paying an annual tax. If any of you know some lawyer friend who can advise us, I can take it up with him.

FundaG

[swiftnfurious]

Originally Posted by fundagenie

Also every state has this rule in one way or another and we all are bound to follow it. Hence giving a petition might not work in this case as that would put the out-station car owners on the wrong side trying to get some benefits...

I think the idea is to make the rule fair, and not to escape from the taxes!

1. 1 month, is a too short time for anyone to pay taxes.
2. Bangalore taxes are one of the highest in India
3. The refund process is pretty bad, as per the reports from the forum.
4. Bangalore roads are NOT that great; in spite of the high RT.
5. How many people carry service bills in their cars or do services atleast every six months?

My expectation is to allow atleast 6 months before you ask people to pay the taxes.

[suresh_gs]

Originally Posted by swiftnfurious

I think the idea is to make the rule fair, and not to escape from the taxes!

1. 1 month, is a too short time for anyone to pay taxes.
2. Bangalore taxes are one of the highest in India
3. The refund process is pretty bad, as per the reports from the forum.
4. Bangalore roads are NOT that great; in spite of the high RT.
5. How many people carry service bills in their cars or do services atleast every six months?

My expectation is to allow atleast 6 months before you ask people to pay the taxes.

Basically the govt tweaked the rule to generate funds for some scheme called ANNA BHAGYA or so.

[swiftnfurious]

Originally Posted by suresh_gs

Basically the govt tweaked the rule to generate funds for some scheme called ANNA BHAGYA or so.

Even more reasons to challenge the rules? When I (am made to) pay road taxes, I want to see better roads & traffic conditions. Do we have these two in Bangalore inspite of the highest (?) road taxes?

I don't want political discussions; hence I am NOT commenting what I want to comment.

[suresh_gs]

Originally Posted by swiftnfurious

Even more reasons to challenge the rules? When I (am made to) pay road taxes, I want to see better roads & traffic conditions. Do we have these two in Bangalore inspite of the highest (?) road taxes?

I agree with what you are saying. Unfortunately the govt misues the funds generated through tax. BMTC earns a substantial amount of revenue by chartering the buses for ITPL, Infosys, Manyata tech park, GE etc.. Inspite of this BMTC claims it is in the red.
We are paying the highest road tax in the country. Even a small portion of that amount can go a long way in improving the roads basically. But what is the reality??

Lack of political will is the main reason , i would say.

[arjab]

if trucks can have national permits why not cars? why can't we have an option at the time of vehicle registration (or name change in case of used car buys) the choice to pay tax for one state or several states or cluster of states?
A revenue sharing agreement on account of road tax collected by State A on behalf of State B, State C etc can be worked out.
Central government can also monitor which states are generating the maximum amount of "multi-state" road tax and even incentivise these states w.r.t. road and highways development.

"IF" there is a "political" will there will be way. Until then for us motorists and corporate gypsies who gets transferred from state to state every 3-4 years, "achhe din nahin aane wale hain"

[im_srini]

Originally Posted by suresh_gs

I will quote my case here.
I relocated to Bangalore from Chennai in May 2011.
For 2 years i drove the vehicle without paying road tax in KA.
Finally when the drive to catch outstation cars picked up, i went to Koramangala RTO to pay tax voluntarily.
The RTO authorities in koramangala did not ask me to prove when i shifted to bangalore.
They computed the tax based on the age of the vehicle and i produced the DD for the same.

Hi Suresh,
Terribly sorry to trouble you again.
When I approached the E-City RTO ( Bannerghatta Road ), I was informed that a NOC from the Police, some Form-33 ( I believe Form-33 is about change of address in your RC ), & the invoice is required for them to even give the tax estimate !
Also, I was wondering if I can approach the Koramangala RTO & pay the tax since they appear to have less red-tape.

[suresh_gs]

Originally Posted by im_srini

Hi Suresh,
Terribly sorry to trouble you again.
When I approached the E-City RTO ( Bannerghatta Road ), I was informed that a NOC from the Police, some Form-33 ( I believe Form-33 is about change of address in your RC ), & the invoice is required for them to even give the tax estimate !
Also, I was wondering if I can approach the Koramangala RTO & pay the tax since they appear to have less red-tape.

I guess you can go to Koramangala RTO to pay the tax. All that you need is the invoice copy , Form 14 and other vehicle documents like insurance, RC book etc. You will get this form from the person seated in the helpdesk counter.
They did not insist on me to produce the NOC. They said by paying road tax i can continue to run the vehicle with TN number plate.

[blacksport]

Originally Posted by suresh_gs

Basically the govt tweaked the rule to generate funds for some scheme called ANNA BHAGYA or so.

Not exactly. Govt introduced this rule to plug revenue leaks which otherwise would have been collected if every car plying in Bangalore registered their cars here. Some smart people found a way to get around the law, and govt trying to be smarter.

It is a matter of concern that people who are here for genuinely temporary visits are suffering.

[fundagenie]

Originally Posted by blacksport

Not exactly. Govt introduced this rule to plug revenue leaks which otherwise would have been collected if every car plying in Bangalore registered their cars here. Some smart people found a way to get around the law, and govt trying to be smarter.

If the KA govt had kept the road tax in line with the other states, I am sure almost everyone would have got the car from here. And there would not have been any revenue leaks and most probably higher revenue. Even a annual tax system would get them good revenues and would be a win win situation for all. But instead they want to fleece the common man with such high road taxes and rules.

Lot of people buy cars from their states not just to escape the high taxes but also considering the possibility of returning back to their home state after a few years in bangalore. And in the process avoid the hassles of getting the refund, number change etc at the time. The other option of selling off a 3-4 yrs vehicle to escape such hassles while shifting would only result in loss.\

FundaG

[coolclouds]

Bangalore has most floating population and many of them try to bring cars they currently use. It could have been a great relief if tax can be paid for shorter periods like 1 or 2 years so that it never becomes a burden.

[aajohn]

Originally Posted by fundagenie

Lot of people buy cars from their states not just to escape the high taxes but also considering the possibility of returning back to their home state after a few years in bangalore. And in the process avoid the hassles of getting the refund, number change etc at the time. The other option of selling off a 3-4 yrs vehicle to escape such hassles while shifting would only result in loss.

Migrant population are the impacted ones.

I'm from Kerala - worked there, moved to Chennai and then got transferred to Bangalore. Cant imagine shelling out close to 1.5 -2.5 lakhs in every state for tax and then running around for a refund! If I had 5 lakhs just to pay taxes as in the above case, I would be comfortably sitting at home

[commonman]

First and foremost let us agree to the fact that the rule amendment was not made for the convenience of the commuters nor the citizen. This is a blatant anti federal law which have been floated by the government to fill in the treasury . Thats why they are not opting for 1 ,2 or 5 year payment. This could have been good for the people but keeping track of the taxes paid and not paid becomes the work for the RTO,which they don't want to do.
Now why a PIL doesn't work here is ,though there is a substantial number of floating population in Bangalore they are not as big to form a strong community or they are ready to pay. I myself had made a payment of Rs.20000 for a 5 year old Alto and the RTO asked me to keep the same Registration number. I didn't get any reimbursement from the parent state.
My personal opinion is to get all Team BHP members in the legal fraternity to come together and do some thought exchange to make this a little easier on people.

[blacksport]

Originally Posted by commonman

First and foremost let us agree to the fact that the rule amendment was not made for the convenience of the commuters nor the citizen. This is a blatant anti federal law which have been floated by the government to fill in the treasury . Thats why they are not opting for 1 ,2 or 5 year payment. This could have been good for the people but keeping track of the taxes paid and not paid becomes the work for the RTO,which they don't want to do.

I would like to understand why it is an ant-federal law. What federal tenet does it violate?