PPAM Melinjau in Precinct 11 is one of the housing schemes eligible for the discount in Putrajaya. — Filepic
PUTRAJAYA Corporation (Ppj) recorded a 61.1% increase in its first-term assessment tax collection from houseowners under the Malaysia Civil Servants Housing Programme (PPAM) this year compared to 2022.
Ppj Finance Department Valuation Division director and Commissioner of Buildings Siti Azzah Abdul Razak said the big increase in successful collection was likely due to PPAM houseowners’ eligibility for the 30% assessment tax discount.
Last December, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced that the discount would apply in 2023 to residential properties costing not more than RM300,000 bought after 2017.
Siti Azzah said 8,573 ratepayers were eligible for the discount, namely owners of PPAM Saderi, Ketumbar, Seruling, Selasih, Pudina, Palma, Melinjau, Larai and Jintan.
“First-term assessment tax payment was due by Feb 28.
“This year, our records indicated that 4,815 houseowners paid their assessment taxes for the first term on time, compared to 2,989 houseowners in the corresponding period last year.
“The incentive has had a positive impact on the assessment tax collection rate,” she said.
Siti Azzah: 8,573 ratepayers are eligible for the discount, namely owners of PPAM Saderi, Ketumbar, Seruling, Selasih, Pudina, Palma, Melinjau, Larai and Jintan.
On March 9, Anwar released a statement on the second phase of assessment tax discount for property owners in the administrative capital.
This time, the discount has been extended to another 2,700 strata and terrace house owners, also for projects completed after 2017.
He stated that strata property owners would get a 5% discount, while terrace house owners would get a 20% discount on their second term bill.
Due to the special discounts, Siti Azzah said PPj would lose about RM1.9mil in revenue from the estimated assessment tax collection, but assured that there would be no change in their level of service to ratepayers.
She said the assessment tax rate in Putrajaya was last adjusted in 2017.
“PPj started collecting assessment tax in 1999 and the tax rate for residential properties was 8%, based on the first valuation in 1998.
“Another property revaluation was done in 2015 but there were complaints from residents on the rate.
“After the objection period, the assessment tax rate for residential properties was reduced to between 5% and 6% which is valid until today,” she added.
Putrajaya resident and assistant officer Norehan Hussain, 46, who lives in PPAM Pudina, said she usually settled her bills for two terms at the beginning of the year.
“With the discount, I have saved RM165, which can go for other expenses,” she said.
Supervisor and father-of-two Mohd Nazrul Razali, 35, said the money saved would help with childcare fees and other household expenses, which have increased.
“The initiative shows that the government is actively finding ways to lessen the people’s financial burden.
“Every little bit adds up to a significant amount that can be used for other necessities,” he said.
