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 children
10% 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 18th
December 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.com
regarding other events in the Paphos and Tala area which may be of interest.
Next issue
15 November
Areti Pieridou
