Draft map shows Westmeath areas to be hit by new zoned land tax
Westmeath County Council has published a draft map which is designed to show the land in the county that will be subject to a new residential zoned land tax from 2024.
The tax, which was announced by the Government in response to the housing crisis, is designed to "unlock land" for the construction of new homes. It will apply annually at a rate of 3% of the land's market value.
In Westmeath, the council today (Thursday) announced that a draft map, showing lands in the county that will be subject to the residential zoned land tax, could be viewed online here.
The map is also available for viewing in the council's public offices.
The local authority is inviting landowners to check the draft map and, if they wish to make a submission on it, to do so by January 1, 2023.
"The Residential Zoned Land Tax is a new tax aimed at increasing housing supply by activating zoned, serviced residential development lands (including mixed-use lands) for housing," said the council.
"Greenfield and brownfield land which is identified and is zoned for housing (including land zoned mixed-use) will be subject to tax from 2024. The tax is a commitment under Housing for All, the Government’s housing plan to 2030."
"The draft map is now available to view on Westmeath County Council’s website and in its public offices. The draft map shows lands that will be subject to the new residential zoned land tax.
"Landowners and third parties have until January 1, 2023, to make a submission to Westmeath County Council about whether or not land on the map meets the criteria for being subject to the tax."
The council said landowners, in their submissions, could suggest corrections to the draft map if they feel that land included on the map does not meet the criteria for the tax, or if they "disagree with the date on which the map states the land meets the criteria."
They can also request a change of zoning of their land, so that it is not subject to the tax, and can identify other land that should be subject to the tax.
"Westmeath requires increased housing supply to meet our housing needs, and the new tax aims to incentivise landowners to develop housing on serviced lands zoned for housing, both land with existing planning permission and land without,” said the council.
"The residential zoned land tax is an annual tax, which will be first due in 2024 in respect of lands included on the final maps to be published by local authorities on December 1, 2023.
"The residential zoned land tax will apply annually at a rate of 3% of the market value of the land. The tax will be administered on a self-assessed basis," the council added.
More details are available on the council's website here.
The council has also shared this short video explainer on the residential zoned land tax: