Update on Payment of Property Tax!

[The Dog Walker]

I posted at the end of March and again early in April, regarding payment of Property Tax, since PTP is not yet through. We had made enquiries at our Alsancak office, but were told nothing was owed, despite the fact that nothing was paid in 2012 either. So, we took heed of useful suggestions made on Kibkom, and this morning took all paperwork to the Girne office near the Police Station. After waiting an hour and a half in a long queue, we were finally seen -- our Turkish friend did the talking, paperwork was not even looked at, and we were told to go back to Alsancak Belerdiyesi, which we did. There, we were told that it was nearing lunchtime and we should return tomorrow! I'll let you know the outcome if and when it happens.

[sophie]

I find at times like these when dealing with Government department in the TRNC that a very large G & T helps no end.

[Marions]

went into Alsancak belediye and we don't even exist. They cannot look up the house and street number, only the name of the owner, and as we do not yet have our kocan we gave the name of the 'owner'. But he has two properties in the village and the bill we were given, we thinkm, is for the other. So we don't exist, our property doe snot exist, slo as they say 'further enquiries will be made'.

we do not appear to have paid for about 5 years , since it moved from Girne where we did pay, but can't find the papers at the moment. So i am inefficient, but methinks the powers that be are as well.

Hope we are not fined oto heavily, but one is given a bit of a run around. also silly me used to rely on the other half doing it all, but the system has fallen through. as long as our house doesn't, all will be well.

[Sandman]

Sounds like how the UK is becoming !!!

[muffin]

Regarding the payment of Property Tax. there was a similar scare prompting people to pay about 3 years ago. We asked our developer about this and true to form his reaction was "don't pay". he then went on to tell us that, the developer is responsible for payment until the kojan is passed on.

Being somewhat sceptical we decided to consult the Beliydere and were sent to the Property Tax office quite close to the main Police Station. The lady there checked the computer records and said that the developer had only paid up until 3 years previously so this amount was owing plus interest.

The developer denied owing anything but was unable to produce a receipt for the payment - he told us that he paid in total a sum for all the properties he owned. The Office advised us to start paying as this tax has to be paid up to date before they will issue a koijan. To cut a long story short we did a "deal" on the outstanding interest and now pay yearly as required. It's simpler to comply!!!

[The Dog Walker]

Visit to Alsancak Belediyesi was, at last, successful-- Property Tax has now been paid--rather more than anticipated, but all finished, thank goodness.

[ttoli]

Can someone point tell me exactly where the office near the Police station is and what documents do I need, is the Kocan suffice ?

Thanks

[pippie]

Take your contract of sale so that they can register that you are liable for the tax.

You need to go to Alsancak Belediye - the building where you pay your water bills. There's a staircase in the middle of the building block to take you inside and up to the 2nd floor where the reception is. Once it's on the computer you then go back downstairs to where you pay your water bills and you can pay the property tax there.

[karmels]

pippie.

You cannot pay property tax until you have the kocan in your name.
You cannot apply for your kocan untill you have paid the building taxes.

[The Dog Walker]

Message 9 is incorrect. You can pay property tax without the Kocan in your name. We have recently done so, at the Alsancak office, and the tax receipt is in the name of the current occupier, who is still waiting for PTP. The Power of Attorney in this particular case holds the Original Kocan, since the previous owners have left N.Cyprus.

[cyprusishome]

I agree dog walker. Many people occupy their homes before receiving their kocan and to avoid penalties you should pay from the date you occupy. This from personal experience.

If you are not connected to mains services you may "get away" without paying but once connected to water you are on record as living there. Thing is to get correct advice is to always go to those that make the charges, we listened to our stupid builder.....!!!!!!

[Philoz]

Having seen the depth of discussion into what should be a relatively simple matter,given the choice between paying my property tax,and building a working Anti-gravity machine out of tin cans in my shed,I will go for the latter as it sounds a good deal easier to me.

[karmels]

The Dog Walker.

You have paid the tax that the previous owner should have payed as the kocan is in their name.

Until you have the kocan in your name you do not have to pay as it is in someone else's name.

The Alsancak office will take the money as they think you are paying for a friend.

The Alsancak office will have to see the kocan in your name to enter it on to the computer system and change it into your name, until this time you do not pay.

[karmels]

cyprusishome.

The only money you need to pay when you occupy you home is.
1. Collection of refuse.
2. Street lighting.
3. Water.
4. Electric, ( if the meter is in your name),
and a donation to the Muktars Xmas fund.

As stated above property tax comes later.

[teg17]

The statements made on this post are so contradictory. I find it astounding that there is no written government legislation which can be quoted and corroborates whether the property tax must be paid before or after receipt of the kocan. It appears to be based on heresay and do what you will, who cares anyway, the state coffers will gratefully gobble up anything that is proffered. No apologies for the cynisism. Welcome to the third world !

[namps]

So pleased to see this posting. We have just paid tax on behalf of friends not in country, but trying to sort our the"till roll" water bill [ours is printed like elec.bill,so easy]is becoming a nightmare. It has been paid through bank as standing order yet appears to show arrears. Went to office yesterday paid "outstanding" bill[nothing relating to "till roll",which included what I translated to what seems like cleaning charge plus refuge. Can someone tell me what is standing water charge if nothing being used, and how often are extras, i.e. cleaning/refuse added.

[The Dog Walker]

Re Karmels reply. Surely the Power of Attorney, who represents the previous owners in all matters relating to the house, including selling it if she so wishes, has an obligation also to ensure that the Property Tax is paid regularly. Otherwise, when the PTP is finally obtained, the back Property Tax could be considerable, but must be paid before the new Kocan is issued.

[lippylush]

cyprusishome.

The only money you need to pay when you occupy you home is.
1. Collection of refuse.
2. Street lighting.
3. Water.
4. Electric, ( if the meter is in your name),
and a donation to the Muktars Xmas fund.

As stated above property tax comes later.

Can anyone advise with regard to the above. Our homes do not have water, we do not have refuse collection or street lighting as we live up a mountain. we do have electricty thank goodness but no other services. Have always paid
our yearly taxes now not sure why we are paying the full amount if we don't have any services should we get a rebate .......... well it's worth a try but knowing the system it is possibly a non starter?!

[cyprusishome]

karmels,
so why do we have to pay every year when we get the bill from Beledye? Should we just forget it? Or give it to you to pay?

Quite honestly there is so much disinformation on this and many other topics regarding government policies etc the only ones I take notice of are the ones given to me at the relevant office. Beyond that anything else could be total nonesense or as has been known in the past, wrong info given deliberatley to wind people up.

So I will say no more on this topic but will pay my bills when requested.

[karmels]

cyprusishome.

As state the bill will be in the other persons name, it's their responsibility to pay this not you until the kocan is in your name.

[Geoff1131]

Just to confuse things even more.

I have paid property tax and council tax for my apartment for the past 3 years. I do not have my Kocan yet and the bills from Esentepe council are in MY name!!!!!!!

[namps]

any help for me on message 15 please

[teg17]

Karmels, as I posted in an earlier comment and in the interests of those who are seeking the correct information, where can the written government legislation that corroborates indisputably who should pay what and when, be found ?
Or maybe it just does not exist. If it does exist surely someone in an official government capacity must be able to produce irrevocable proof one way or another, it cannot be both.

[karmels]

tag17.

I have just lost my post which I answered you and geoff1131.
The simple answer is you are both being ripped off as the kocan is in some elses name.
There is nothing laid down in writing that the office will show you, they will get as much cash from any means.
I have lived here over 20 years and stood in local politics the DP Party , yes I hold a Kimlik card you may ask why??

[teg17]

Fair enough Karmels, point taken, having lived and dealt with third world countries for many years I should not have been so naive and expected legitimate policing of non existent government legislation. As they say its not what you know but, who !

[Barbieb]

Just for info but in our experience it is definitely down to the Kocan holder to pay the property tax, we also visited Alsancak Belediye some years ago to pay our property tax to be told our builder was paying it as the property was in his name (and yes he was paying it) however, we discovered because we were on builders supply we were paying double water bills etc, this was rectified by taking our contract of sale, however builder continued to pay our property tax until Kocan was transferred to us, I think we were very lucky, especially hearing just one half of horror stories.

[karmels]

Barbieb.

Glad you had a good experience with your builder. I get a little annoyed when expats.

No I am not going to go down that route, I will just let those people go on there own merry way.
I have never had a solicitor to do any work for me in all the time here including, buying selling ect.
I purchased and built a 265 mtq house / restaurant in Ozankoy 30 years ago which I have now sold.
I do not try to hide my identity, what for.

I think other than a true Cypriot, who knows the local rules, due to the language and translation. I can answer most local questions but not on immigration, the local rules are a mine field and will be for a long time to come.

[carrierbag]

We have been paying the Property tax to Esentepe Belediyere for over 3 years but last year I realised they had over-charged me to the tune of TL515 but do you think I can get it back...not on your life...I was laughed at. I was thinking of taking them to court but our Advocate, who would do it, says it will probably cost us more.

They have you by the short and curlies most of the time!

[Halffull]

Well I have been paying property tax for 3 years and will be getting my Kojan in the next couple of weeks (when the builder gets back from Turkey), been told the Land Registry requires proof the tax is paid. I have no problem paying it and would rather pay it annually than get a whacking bill, when the belledye realise it hasn't been paid. One thing is certain the builder wont pay it, took enough "encouraging" to get where we are at, all taxes paid, all paperwork completed and just a signature at the land registery to finalise the process!!!!

[pippie]

Keeping the property tax up to date - if the kocan is not in your name - is in your best interests if you want to sell the property.

Properties can change owners many times before the kocan is issued however, one of the conditions is that the property tax is all paid up to date.

If you have no intention of selling in the future and the kocan is not in your name, then you don't need to worry about this tax as it's not your responsibility.

[Deniz1]

You are right Pippie I sold my house last year with no kocan but the lawyer made sure that I had paid the yearly council tax up to date before completion.

[the butlers wife]

We also live in the Esentepe area and are billed for property tax even though we don't have our kocans.

We know our developer won't pay this as they have told us it is our responsibility, as we are living in the property.

We know this is probably untrue but we would rather pay it and sleep easy.


The butlers wife