Tala newsletter September 2014
IMMOVABLE PROPERTY TAX 2014 - Payable to the Tax Authorities in Paphos
The tax will remain the same as last year, despite the promises that everyone will pay less, however, more missing properties have been added to the register.
A 15% discount will apply if the tax is paid by 31st October. Otherwise the tax must be paid by 30th November and a 10% penalty, interest, administrative fee and ‘other charges’ will be applied if you have not paid after this date.
For those who have not yet received their title deeds [and please read to the end of this notice as there is an update], you will no longer pay the tax to your developer [with the usual add ons for ‘administration’ etc]. This means that you will pay a lower tax than you would otherwise [as the developer would be paying the tax at 1.9%].
Property developers are required to provide the authorities with details of properties they have sold but which have yet to be transferred to the purchasers:
· The distinctive features of the sold unit
· The name and address of the purchaser or transferee or beneficiary of the unit
· The date of sale or assignment
· The date of completion of the building
· The date of delivery of possession of the building
This then enables the Land Registry to assess the 1980 value of the property in question and the Inland Revenue can issue an IPT notice to the purchaser.
The law contains provisions that remove a purchaser’s obligation to pay IPT if their development company is in liquidation or if the delay in issue of the title deeds is the fault of the owner [developer] .
Immovable Property Tax rates:
Assessed 1980 property value | Tax rate | Tax | Cumulative Tax |
€1 to €12,500 | Nil | €0 | €0 |
€12,501 to €40,000 | 0.6% | €240* | €240* |
€40,001 to €120,000 | 0.8% | €640 | €880 |
€120,001 to €170,000 | 0.9% | €450 | €1330 |
€170,001 to €300,000 | 1.1% | €1,430 | €2,760 |
€300,001 to €500,000 | 1.3% | €2,600 | €5,360 |
€500,001 to €800,000 | 1.5% | €4,500 | €9,860 |
€800,001 to €3,000,000 | 1.7% | €37,400 | €47,260 |
€3,000,001 onwards | 1.9% |
*Those owning property where the total value is in excess of €12,500 will pay tax on the total 1980 value.
The Inland Revenue will issue notices during August/early September – but please note that non-receipt will not be accepted as an excuse for non-payment! If you do not receive a notice, please go down to the Tax Office in Paphos to collect it.
Payment can be made to the tax department in Paphos, through www.jccsmart.com, or any local bank. Please note that to pay via jccsmart you will need to quote the reference shown on your 2014 tax notice. For payment via the banks, you will need your tax assessment, your identity card [might be an idea to have your passport with you as well] and payment.
Objections can be raised by 30/9/2014 by visiting the Inland Revenue personally, through your agent, or the IPT division of the District Office where your file is kept, by taking your notice. For those currently abroad, you should contact the following office and state clearly the reason[s] for your objection. Paphos - iptpaph@ird.mof.gov.cy.
Anyone wishing to telephone the office in Paphos should please contact 26 804342 or 26 804337.
For those without title deeds:
· Ensure your developer has your correct postal address and contact details so that the Inland Revenue send your IPT notice to the correct address.
· Do not pay 2014 IPT to your developer.
· If you believe the 1980 valuation shown on your IPT notice is too high you may query this with the Inland Revenue
· If you believe the IPT has been incorrectly calculated by the Inland Revenue you may challenge this
Where the property of a deceased person has not yet been transferred to the legal heirs, the legal heirs have an obligation to pay the correct amount of tax to the Inland Revenue by incorporating their share of the property inherited on their tax declaration.
For those without title deeds, please note that the information shown may be subject to change as we understand that there may be a problem extracting the information from the developers for people where title deeds have not yet been issued and where the developer is deemed responsible for the non-issuance of title deeds – as in the case of properties sold while encumbered with a mortgage already taken out on it. Regrettably, if you don’t have title deeds and don’t receive a tax notice in August, you will either have to contact your developer or go down to the Inland Revenue office.
IMMOVABLE PROPERTY TAX – LOCAL – Payable to Tala Council
This tax is payable to Tala Council once you have your title deeds. Demand notices are not issued and it is the responsibility of every property owner to settle their accounts. Please note that payment must be made before 18th December to avoid payment of a 25% penalty. The amount payable is set annually by the Community Board up to a ceiling of 1% of the 1980 based valuation as recorded on individual title deeds. Those who, through choice or necessity, have yet to have their house value included on their title deeds, only pay on the value of the land they hold title to.
IMMOVABLE PROPERTY TAX – PROPERTY VALUATIONS AT 1.1.2013
Regarding Immovable Property Tax, the Land and Survey Department has assessed the value of your property as at 1 January 2013. You can now view this information - www.moi.gov.cy/dls and check for your valuation. Please note that this value will not be used for the tax for 2014 but will probably be used in 2015 as the Government moves towards current valuations rather than 1980 valuations for property taxation.
If you disagree with the value, you may object by sending a written letter to Mr Kyriakos Tsoulakis [Survey Department Deputy] within six months from the date of posting of the listing. His telephone number is 22 804881 and his email address is ktsolakis@dls.moi.gov.cy. Any additional information may be obtained by phoning 77 777730 - Petros Foutas the Council Executive Secretary. Contrary to what has been shown in the local press, no charge is made to handle the appeal [although a charge may be levied for any appeals after the expiration of the 6 month deadline].
To find your property valuation:
1. Go to the land and surveys page via http://www.moi.gov.cy/dls
2. Choose the English language on the top-left side of the page
3. Click on “locate your parcel” [aerial map of Cyprus which changes to become Locate Your Parcel]
4. Choose your language again (English)
5. Tick on the box “I agree to the above terms of use”
6. Select area; click Paphos and then Tala
7. Select advanced search (sheet and plan ref: it is displayed on your contract with your developer, or as shown on your title deeds]. Press Ok.
8. You can then view your plot. Various pieces of information are shown. On the last row of the column, click on Valuation and you will see your plot value.
If you need to go down to the Paphos Land Registry to appeal against your valuation, please note that if you approach the Land Registry, go into the entrance where the lift doors are facing you. To the right of the lift there is a door, go through this and you will find an office with four ladies in specifically to deal with appeals. There is a lengthy form to complete [in Greek] which they assist you with and your appeal could take up to 6 months to be dealt with.
If there is, in fact, a typing error on your title deeds, be prepared to be passed to another person in the building and, again, you will have to wait for a period, whilst a full investigation is carried out.
TAXATION – TALA COUNCIL – RATES & REFUSE 2014
Invoices are in the process of being issued and should be received shortly. For 2014, the taxation bands will be as follows:
A – Community Tax/Rates:
1.Luxury Villas [300m or more with a pool] € 200- € 500
2.Detached House € 170
3.Maisonettes, or houses over 2 sites on shared plot € 120
4.Single room stone village house within the village € 50
5.Apartments € 110
6.Pensioners with low income [less than €700 total per month*] € 80
7.Underpriviledged familes €80
8.Land Plots/parcels. Co-owners charged accordingly € 60
9.Owners of more than one piece of land € 100
10.Small companies €100 - € 500
11.Large companies €850 - € 10000
12.Radiostations, tv stations, masts/aerials, etc €500
13.Houses under construction €100
B – Refuse Collection/Cleaning Tax and Business Tax
1.For each residential unit €100
2.Small shops, small supermarkets €150
3 Restaurants, pubs, tavernas €250
4.Coffee shops € 50
5.Periptero, So Easy €500
6.Pharmacy €300
7.Cooperative Bank €500
8.Monastery cafeteria €250
*Anyone who falls into this category must prove their income to the satisfaction of the Council. Original bank statements [for UK and Cypriot accounts] will be required, as will written confirmation from any pension providers. Additional documentation may be required, depending on circumstances. If you fall into this category, please submit your details in writing to the council office.
In addition to the above:
1.Large families are entitled to a 25% discount and families with 3 children10% for both assessments providing no other category of deduction applies.
2.Vacant homes and homes under construction are excluded from the refuse tax. Houses uninhabited for some time will be judged individually.
3.For each additional vacant house to the main residence, an additional € 50 is payable if the taxpayer is taxed already for another house. (eg an owner is taxed on the residence where he lives € 170 tax for community services and € 100 refuse. If he has another house which remains vacant the owner will pay another amount for community services of € 50.)
4.Single adults who work and live with their parents € 50. Those who are unemployed or are students are excluded.
C – Cemetery Tax
An amount of €20 per household is payable this year towards the new cemetery.
As you are aware the current village cemetery was full and a small extension was granted. In view of the lack of space, as previously advised, regrettably until the new cemetery is constructed, spaces can only be allocated to Cypriots . This is not intended to be discriminatory, but reflects the importance Cypriots place on being buried with their family members in their home village. However, as mentioned in previous newsletters, Tala urgently needs a new cemetery that will accommodate all christians in the community.
Under Cyprus Law, a cemetery cannot be funded out of the payments received for rates, but a separate tax has to be levied. This tax is then paid into a separate account, specifically for the building of the new cemetery. By charging the tax now, once the necessary permits and permissions are received, we will be in a position to start building the new cemetery immediately. As it stands currently, payment of the tax entitles residents to purchase a grave in the new cemetery [once built] at a cost of €850 per grave.
We are still awaiting planning permission and various permits for the new cemetery. If, therefore, planning permission or the various permits are not forthcoming, then the amount taken as tax will be refunded.
These taxes can be paid in instalments. Please contact the Council Office before 18thDecember to discuss.
For those who have elected to pay by direct debit, payments will be taken on or around the 20th October. An exact date cannot be given as once the Council apply to the Bank, control is out of our hands.
Please note that there wil be a public meeting regarding the cemetery tax, in October, once people return to Cyprus. Details will be circulated in due course.
MULTI -CULTURAL CENTRE
The Council owns a plot of land behind the old car park, across the ravine from Vrasidas Taverna. A sponsor , Mr Sotiris Hadjimina, has come forward and very generously agreed to fund the architects fees for drawing up plans and obtaining building permits for a multi-cultural centre. Once plans have been agreed, we will then apply for EU funding for the project.
It is intended that the centre will be multi-purpose and will allow Tala to provide permanent facilities for the artists in the community, and a room or rooms for functions and events.
GARDEN WASTE CENTRE
As most of you will know, the above has been closed down following yet another fire at the premises. For the time being, therefore, garden waste should be taken to the tip at Marathounda. If you are unable to take the waste yourself, or the volume is too large, please contact the council for collection. A small charge will be made for the service.
The Government is under pressure to meet EU targets in respect of refuse disposal and recycling and has paid some €7m in penalties to the EU due to lack of recycling facilities. Therefore, as a step towards improving this situation, the Government is funding a number of Green Point Recycling Centres across the island. Such sites will be official legal sites, meeting all EU regulations [as opposed to the many illegal garden waste sites which have been created by necessity by many councils and which are fire and health hazards – as proved by the problems at Tala]. Once we know where the sites will be, and when they will be opening, further information will be provided.
REFUSE
As you are aware, the contract with the previous refuse collectors was due for renewal and, working with other local communities, the contract was put out to tender. There were problems over the course of the first month or so, but now that the route has been established, we appear to be back on track. I apologise for any inconvenience that has been caused to those affected by non-collection.
What has come to light is that a number of people are leaving out a large number of sacks of garden waste. The council is only required by law to remove household waste and priority will always be given to that waste. The refuse collectors will not take any more than 2 bags of garden waste, and that will only be taken if space permits on the wagon. For collection of anything in excess of 2 bags, please phone the council to arrange for collection. A small fee may be charged, depending on the number of bags involved.
There is limited spare land and space in landfill sites across the island and everyone is asked to please recycle as much of their refuse as possible. There are bins around the village for glass, paper/cardboard and plastic waste and it would be helpful if efforts were made to use them.
GOVERNMENT CENTRALISATION
You may have read in the press that the Government is proposing to reduce the number of municipalities across the island and centralise many functions currently undertaken by local councils. We do not know, at this stage, exactly what is proposed, but have been told that it is hoped to have the centralisation completed by the end of 2016. As far as we are aware, each community will retain a council, but with limited decision making, and that council will need to apply to the central body [Paphos in our case] for funding and purchasing. As further information becomes available, you will be advised.
SEWERAGE
There is little additional information to provide you with at the present time. The matter is still with the Government for a formal decision.
After initially electing to proceed with the road-based mains sewerage, Peyia have had a change of heart. They asked for a years grace before payment was started towards the project. This was rejected and a 2 month extension provided. They have now decided that they would prefer not to be included in the project at all and have advised SAPA accordingly. As you may remember, Peyia are in a slightly different position to Tala in that the residents have to fund 100% of the project [as opposed to 80% Government funding for Tala] and Peyia also have to consider pollution of the coastal waters.
DOGS
The Council receives more complaints about dogs than anything else. Two of the most common complaints are dogs wandering free, and also dog fouling. If you have a dog, please ensure that this is only allowed out of your premises on a lead and that you pick up after your dog. We will now be fining those who have ignored warning letters.
Barking is another area of concern to residents. If any owner has a problem with their dog barking, please contact Cathi [toffee@primehome.com] and she will put you in touch with a lady who offers a service to solve this.
COMMUNITY NURSING HELP
If anyone needs the services of a nurse, eg following an operation, or if you have become housebound and need minor medical attention, please note that the Government provides Agency Homecare.
Examples where help can be provided :
· Sample collection
· Injections
· Changing or inserting catheters
· Changing of dressings
· Care of pressure ulcers
· Wound care, or care of diabetic foot
· Oxygen administration through a ventilator
If help is required, please contact Katerina Haralambous on 97 796200, or 26 803497.
BURGLAR ALARM INSTALLERS
Just to make you aware, under Cyprus law, anyone conducting security services must be licensed. Failure to comply can result in a fine of up to €30,000 and/or a term of imprisonment. The courts also have the power to make clients of such illegal companies pay the fines if they cannot pay or if they disappear. You could also be invalidating your insurance by using illegal companies. To protect yourself, please insist on seeing a copy of the installers licence.
COMPUTER LESSONS
Computer lessons - from this month onwards it is hoped that if there is sufficient interest, computer lessons can be provided. Details of the courses available can be found on www.talanews.blogspot.com. Please register your interest with Daniel on christou.daniel@gmail.com. If you have specific areas where you would like help, again please contact Daniel and he will see if a course can be put together to address your needs.
WHAT’S ON [At the Amphitheatre, unless shown otherwise]
September:
5 & 7 – Sister Act and Supremes Motown Magic
9 - Collegium Cyprus with Soprano Chryso Makariou [Classical music]
18 - Cyprus Symphony Orchestra
19,24 & 27 – Jersey Boys
October:
3 - Starlight Dance Party in aid of Tala Monastery Cats.
Chris King, Stevie Dean and Ben Mills perform as themselves. Top hits from 1960’s to 1990’s.
9 - Vatouthkia – Movies, Musicals & More in aid of Cyprus Kidney Association
31 - Church Hall – Paphos Voices
31 - Vatouthkia – Halloween with Kendall & Morrelli
November:
15 - Kamares Club – Kamares Christmas Bazaar
21 - Vatouthkia – Barry White direct from the UK
December:
13 - Vatouthkia – Top of the Pops Xmas with Kendall & Morrelli
Tickets for Amphitheatre and some of the Vatouthkia events are available at SoEasy Kiosk in Tala. Tickets can also be purchased at Vatouthkia for events there. For most shows, tickets can be reserved on www.talanews.blogspot.com.
Please also see www.talanews.blogspot.comregarding other events in the Paphos and Tala area which may be of interest.
Next issue 15 November
Areti Pieridou
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