MPAJ secretary Julaihah Jamaludin distributing valuation exercise notices at an apartment in Pandan Indah. — Courtesy of MPAJ
THE deadline for Ampang Jaya property owners to appeal against the increase in assessment rates has been extended to May 31 from the initial May 15 deadline.
Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) president Dr Ani Ahmad said the two-week extension was based on owners’ request.
“They need the extra time to send in their appeals. So far, we have received over 200 responses,” she said at the MPAJ Excellence Service Awards at the Melawati Convention Centre in Taman Melawati in Ampang Jaya, Selangor.
Ani said to date, notices informing ratepayers of the property valuation exercise had been sent to almost all strata properties.
“Owners of landed properties will receive the notices from this week.”
She said a video and infographic explaining the valuation exercise and rate calculation was available on MPAJ’s social media pages.
The tax percentage is calculated based on property type.
The existing rates are for traditional village (1.1%), non-traditional village (2.2%), residential (5.5%), commercial (6.6%), industrial (7.15%) and agricultural (1.1%).
According to MPAJ, the assessment rate for some properties could see a significant increase based on various reasons.
These can include a change of purpose – from vacant land being developed for residential, commercial or industrial buildings or addition of floor space – for example, where a single-storey residential property has been renovated to a two-storey house.
A service counter is available at Menara MPAJ in Pandan Indah for house owners seeking clarification on the assessment process.
StarMetro previously reported that the council’s property revaluation exercise would be capped at 25% for unaltered or unmodified properties.
The revaluation exercise was approved at the state executive council meeting last Dec 6.
The last revaluation exercise was done in 1997.
The new rates, if approved by the state, would come into effect next year.
Ani said the valuation involved 180,000 properties, comprising some 85,000 landed homes and 95,000 strata units.
She said the tax increase would add RM14mil to MPAJ’s coffers, on top of its current annual collection of RM85mil.
Once the deadline to appeal ends, MPAJ will hold a hearing session before sending the new assessment rates to the state government for approval.