Land Tax Assessments 2021

The Land Tax Assessments for 2021 are being issued by the relevant State Revenue Offices (SRO). Are they correct and are you paying too much Land Tax?

Usual Land Tax Assessment process

Each Council/Shire engages a Licensed Valuer for the purpose of valuing each property in their municipality in respect of:

1. The Capital Improved Value (CIV) – Land plus any improvements
2. Site Value/Unimproved Land Value – Land Only

Previously, this was done every two years, however valuations are now done annually. If you conduct any building activity including obtaining certain permits, the council/shire can issue an Amended Rates Notice at any time. The Council/Shire will declare a range of rates during their annual budgeting process that will then been multiplied usually by the CIV to determine the annual council/shire rates payable by the land owner. The rates will vary depending upon the use and the relevant planning scheme that applies to the land. For instance there will generally be different rates per dollar for:

1. Residential Land containing a dwelling
2. Vacant Residential Land
3. Industrial Land
4. Vacant Industrial Land
5. Farm Land
6. Native Vegetation etc.

Objecting a Council/Shire Rates Notice

You usually have 60 days to object to a Council/Shire Rates Notice from the issue date, with most objections being:

• Inappropriate valuation
• Assessed area being incorrect
• Incorrect classification/rate applied
• Property no longer owned etc.

The Council/Shire then provides the following two values to the SRO:

1. Site Value – used to produce the Land Tax Assessments
2. CIV – used to calculate Vacant Residential Land Tax

The 2021 Land Tax Assessments take into account land held at midnight on 31 December 2020 and use the value as prepared by councils in 2020.

Is your Land Tax assessment correct?

You also have 60 days to object to a Land Tax Assessment from the issue date.

In addition, as Land Tax is a self-assessment system you need to consider whether:

1. All the land you or the entity owns is included and the apportionment is correct
2. Dimensions and description of the land being valued are correct
3. Is any land which you have bought/sold disclosed?
4. If you receive multiple assessments for the same own – for instance individuals name may be spelt wrong etc
5. Any exemptions are correctly applied – for instance primary production land, principal place of residence, exempt status etc
6. Whether Absentee Owner Surcharge should be or should not be charged
7. Whether any Vacancy Residential Land Tax has been correctly assessed
8. Land subject to the Trust surcharge has been correctly assessed
9. Correct ownership is disclosed – Trust as opposed to Trustees etc.

It is often easier to object against the Council Rates Notice  as in essence this information is then fed through to the SRO. Where the valuation is not appropriate, it is prudent to obtain supporting evidence which in many cases will  include a formal Valuation from a Property Valuer to support a lower and correct valuation. There is a cost/benefit assessment to be done when lodging an objection.

How we can help

To assist you we can:

• Review the Land Tax Assessments to ensure that you are correct – remembering that it is a self-assessment system
• Consider whether the Site Value is appropriate and if not consider lodging an objection.

 “This year has seen Land Tax notices and due dates for payment issue much earlier than prior years. We have seen recent  Land Tax Assessments which are factually incorrect and the valuations that are not appropriate given the circumstances. Given the movement in property values and tenancy issues, Land Tax assessments are significant and need to be reviewed.” Daren McDonald 

Get in touch

Daren McDonald E dmcdonald@sw-au.com

Sejlla Kadric E skadric@sw-au.com

Blake Rodgers E brodgers@sw-au.com

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