Deferral of Revaluations

Last updated at 15:30 on 22/02/2021

What is a Revaluation?

Revaluation is a process by which all rateable properties in a local authority area are valued periodically, and at the same time, by reference to a single valuation date. A National Revaluation Programme has been in place for a number of years and, to date, 23 local authorities have been revalued. In 2019, the Valuation Office commenced a revaluation of all rateable properties in Clare County Council, Donegal County Council, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, Galway City Council, Galway County Council, Kerry County Council and Mayo County Council local authority areas. After the first revaluation of a local authority area has been completed, subsequent revaluations are then scheduled to take place every five to ten years on a recurring basis

Why was the decision made to defer the revaluation?

The revaluation of commercial properties for rates purposes is part of an ongoing national programme to ensure that the rateable valuations of all commercial and industrial property in Ireland are reviewed and updated on a regular cycle so as to maintain relativity between individual ratepayers in the same local authority area. This results in a more transparent and equitable system for all ratepayers.

Every effort was made to finalise the new valuations by September 2021, as planned. However, it is not possible to complete the revaluations under current circumstances due to COVID-19 and restrictions on the operation of many businesses, physical inaccessibility to many business properties and other measures associated with controlling the pandemic.

Will the Valuation Office issue anything directly to the ratepayers?

Yes. The Valuation Office will be writing to individual ratepayers in the Clare County Council, Donegal County Council, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, Galway City Council, Galway County Council, Kerry County Council and Mayo County Council local authority areas in the near future to notify them of the changed timelines and will also notify the trade bodies which represent businesses in these areas.

The new valuations for the areas undergoing revaluation will be published in September 2022 and will become effective for rates purposes from 2023 onwards.

Will an amendment to the legislation be required? When will that be done?

No amendment to legislation is required. Section 21(4) of the Valuation Act 2001, as amended, provides that “the Commissioner (of Valuation) may, with the consent of the Minister, by order amend a valuation order by substituting a different publication date for the date specified therein or a different effective date for the effective date specified therein”.

How can people contact the VO if they have any questions?

Ratepayers in the Clare County Council, Donegal County Council, Galway City Council, Galway County Council, Kerry County Council and Mayo County Council local authority areas can contact the Valuation Office by sending an email to reval2021@valoff.ie

Ratepayers in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council area can contact the Valuation Office by sending an email to revaldunlrath@valoff.ie