ASSESSMENT tax discounts given to owners of properties without tenants, disabled homeowners and those owning low-cost properties in Selangor has seen a positive impact on the people.

Selangor Local Government, New Village Development and Legalising of Factories committee chairman Ean Yong Hian Wah said the assessment discounts has helped shield some of them in these tough economic times.

“More than 27,000 Selangorians had applied and taken advantage of this discount in assessment over the past three years. Our aim is to plough back tax earnings to help ease people’s difficulties in these challenging times,” he said.

He added that the discounts amounted to RM13.5mil to-date in all 12 local authorities in the state.

“Other than keeping people with financial difficulties afloat, the assessment discount has helped people to better manage their finances,” he said.

Ean Yong added that the assessment tax discount had put more cash back into the pockets of hardworking people who had taken up extra jobs to keep their homes.

“Discounts were given to 11,647 owners of unoccupied properties from 2013 to 2015. They had found it difficult to lease their houses, shoplots, factories or warehouses,” he said.

He said although the discounts were provided for by the law, few owners of vacant properties had applied for the reduction, not meeting the numbers anticipated by the state.

“It could be that people are unaware of the assessment discount offer,” he said.

Ean Yong said the application for discount had to be made by the owners each time they received the assessment bill, which was twice a year and differed from council to council, depending on their respective assessment rates.

“Councillors in the local authorities must tell people who are eligible to submit the necessary documents such as land title, newspaper cuttings of advertisements put up to rent the premises as well as water and electricity bills as verification of the building being vacant for at least 30 days,” he said.

Discounts are considered under Section 162 of the Local Government Act 1976 (Act 171) and the local authorities will calculate it for a six-month period.

Health, Welfare, Women and Family Affairs chairman Dr Daroyah Alwi said more disabled people should apply for the 50% discount on the assessment for their property.

“The welfare of the disabled is close to our hearts and we remind them that the discount is offered only for the home they live in and not for one they rent out. People with serious or permanent disabilities can also apply for the discount,” she said.

Dr Daroyah said the number of disabled people given the discount had increased.

“In 2013, we had 211 disabled people who benefitted from the discount, while in 2014, it was up to 441 and in 2015, we saw 400 people getting discounts.

“I believe there are more people in the disabled community who can reap the benefits but they have to put in the application,” she said.

“Based on our records in 2015, there were 88 disabled people in Hulu Selangor who were given discounts, the most from one area in the state. The second highest is Klang with 67 people, and the third is Subang Jaya with 52 disabled people,” she added.

Dr Daroyah said owners of low-cost properties had initially been given 25% discount on their assessment but this had increased to 100% in the Selangor Budget 2016.

Areas with the most low-cost units are Klang, Kajang, Subang Jaya, Petaling Jaya and Shah Alam.