Lucknow, May 12 -- The U.P. government has approved new model byelaws for standardising property tax assessment and mutation charges (for ownership changes) across all urban local bodies, including municipal corporations, municipal councils and nagar panchayats. Aiming at enhancing transparency and efficiency in urban property governance, the newly approved byelaws introduce a standardised, digital process with transparent, slab-based mutation fees to eliminate discrepancies. Until now, the absence of a uniform process led to confusion and arbitrary practices in different urban areas. While some local bodies charged fixed fees for mutation, the others imposed rates as high as 1-2% of the property's sale value, putting a financial burden on property owners. Describing the reform as a "game-changer," principal secretary, urban development, Amrit Abhijat said, "Ensuring a transparent, digital, and citizen-centric property tax system is our priority. These model byelaws will bring uniformity, resolve long-standing mutation disputes and significantly boost municipal revenues." The byelaws have been drafted by the Uttar Pradesh Municipal Financial Resource Development Board in coordination with the urban development department. Once fully implemented, the byelaws are expected to modernise property management across Uttar Pradesh, reduce corruption, improve municipal efficiency, and strengthen public trust in local governance systems. Under the new system, all mutation applications will be filed online. In cases of inheritance or registered wills, mutation charges will range from Rs 1,000 to Rs 5,000 in municipal corporations and Rs 500 to Rs 2,500 in nagar palikas and panchayats-depending on the property size. htc...