Meghalaya offers massive tax amnesty for commercial vehicles, targets ₹200 crore recovery

SHILLONG, June 11: The Meghalaya government on Thursday rolled out a One-Time Settlement (OTS) Scheme offering commercial vehicle owners steep waivers on long-pending taxes and penalties, as it seeks to recover a portion of nearly ₹1,100 crore in outstanding dues.

Launching the scheme in Shillong, Deputy Chief Minister and Transport Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar said commercial vehicle owners can avail an 80% waiver on Motor Vehicle Tax, Goods and Passenger Tax dues and penalties, along with a 90% waiver on penalties related to Fitness Certificates.

The scheme, approved by the State Cabinet, is aimed at encouraging vehicle owners to clear long-pending liabilities that have accumulated over several years.

According to the Transport Department, outstanding dues currently stand at around ₹1,100 crore, of which nearly ₹900 crore comprises fitness certificate-related penalties alone.

Officials estimate that if vehicle owners take advantage of the scheme, the government could recover between ₹180 crore and ₹200 crore in revenue.

Departmental data shows the scale of the problem, with nearly 65,000 vehicles having pending Motor Vehicle Tax dues, 12,642 vehicles liable for Goods and Passenger Tax payments, and more than 57,000 vehicles carrying pending Fitness Certificate penalties.

Dhar said the waiver would apply to eligible dues irrespective of when they were accumulated, allowing operators to settle long-outstanding liabilities under a government-approved formula.

The scheme will remain open until August 31, 2026, giving vehicle owners a limited window to regularise their records.

Urging commercial operators, including truck owners, to make use of the opportunity, Dhar cautioned that such amnesty measures would not be introduced regularly.

“After the scheme closes, vehicle owners will have to comply with the existing system of quarterly or monthly payments. The government cannot bring such waiver schemes every year,” he said.

On the proposed Vehicle Scrappage Policy, the Deputy Chief Minister said the government is working on the necessary systems and infrastructure required for its implementation and will roll it out once preparations are complete.

The Transport Department expects the OTS Scheme to improve compliance, boost revenue collection and provide significant financial relief to thousands of commercial vehicle owners across the state.

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