Goa: In Mapusa, house tax payment at doorstep

SALIGAO: The Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) on Wednesday became the first municipality in Goa to introduce a smart integrated point of sale (POS) machine for online tax payment. The civic body has collaborated with Axis Bank to start the system of electronic payment of taxes.
The POS machine, with geo-tagging facility, will help the municipality collect house taxes and shop rents from the doorstep of residents and shopkeepers.

The council has procured two of these machines. These were inaugurated on Wednesday by Mapusa MLA Joshua D’Souza in the presence of MMC chairperson Ryan Braganza, chief officer Clen Madeira, assistant audit officer Bhanudas Naik, councillors and bank officials.

“This machine will bring in more revenue to the municipality as people will be able to pay their taxes without the hassle of waiting in queues,” the Mapusa MLA said.

Elaborating on the new facility, Madeira told TOI that once the house or shop number is entered into the POS machine, details of taxes due will be displayed. The assessee will then have to enter their name and phone number, and also an email address if available. Once the debit or credit card is swiped, the PIN entered, and the transaction is successful, details of the same will be immediately sent via sms and e-mail.

“The machine will be taken to every ward by our staffers. I appeal to the people not to come to the municipality to pay their taxes and instead, pay them electronically from their homes,” Braganza said.