Closure of LBT Department will be discussed with FM : Ajit Pawar
Harassment of traders is unacceptable : Jayant Patil
Nagpur :- Dr Dipen Agrawal, President of Chamber of Associations of Maharashtra Industry and Trade (CAMIT) called upon Ajit Pawar, Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Legislative Assembly and Jayant Patil, President (Maharashtra State), Nationalist Congress Party. At the outset he welcomed both of them with a floral bouquet and CAMIT dupatta in prominent presence of Duneshwar Pethe, President, NCP, Nagpur City and submitted a memorandum highlighting harassment of traders by Local Body Tax department across the state under the garb of LBT Assessment. 
Dr. Agrawal on behalf of traders of Maharashtra brought to the notice of Ajit Pawar and Jayant Patil about Local Body Tax being abolished with effect from August 2015. Though LBT was abolished in 2015 but the ghost of LBT is haunting traders now and then, department in routine are passing ex-parte (best judgement) orders raising inflated and fictitious tax demands and using them to justify continuance of LBT Department. Records from LBT Appellate Authority will evidence the correctness of this statement. He also informed that LBT Department in various Corporation indulged in issuing back dated assessment orders for previous financial years. He appealed to The LoP that the issue requires his urgent attention and intervention for closure of LBT Department in all Municipal Corporations with immediate effect to ensure ease of doing business in the state and save traders from unnecessary harassment.
Dr. Dipen Agrawal added that Local Body Tax (LBT) was abolished from 31/07/2015 i.e., FY 2015-16. As per LBT Rules 2010, the last date for assessment for FY 2015-16 is 31/03/2021. LBT officers have indulged in 100% assessment of regular LBT cases, whereas LBT Rules provide for assessment in certain contingencies only. It goes without saying that 100% assessment of regular LBT cases by department is nothing but a tool in the hands of officers to harass and extort the business community. They further informed that department is passing ex-parte (best judgement) orders raising inflated & fictitious tax demands and using them to justify continuance of LBT Department. In most of the cases back-dated assessment orders for previous years have been issued by department. Records from LBT Appellate Authority will evidence the correctness of our statement. He further requested both of them to take-up this issue with Government of Maharashtra to close LBT Department in all Municipal Corporations with immediate effect to ensure ease of doing business in the state.
Ajit Pawar and Jayant Patil gave a patient hearing to the matter and assured the matter will be taken up with The Finance Minister they also assured that the issue will be resolved soon.
Dr. Dipen Agrawal on behalf of business community of the state expressed his gratitude towards Ajit Pawar LoP, Maharashtra Assembly and Jayant Patil President NCP Maharashtra for patiently hearing the issues of traders and assuring their best efforts to get it addressed by concerned department/ministry/State Government.
