Draft map shows Offaly areas to be hit by new zoned land tax

Offaly County Council has published a draft map which is designed to show 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 Offaly, the council has prepared a draft map showing lands in the county that will be subject to the residential zoned land tax. It can be viewed online here.

The map is also available for viewing from the council's planning department in Áras an Chontae, Tullamore.

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 was introduced in the Finance Act, 2021. The process to identify land to which the tax applies is now underway, and the tax will be payable from 2024," said the council.

"The objective of the tax is to activate land that is serviced and zoned for residential use or mixed use, including residential use, in order to increase housing supply and to ensure regeneration of vacant and idle lands in urban locations."

Landowners, in their submissions to the council, can 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.

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.

More details are available on the council's website here.