Local Property Tax: use the right valuation date

Begin with the relevant period

Local Property Tax (LPT) can cause confusion when somebody sees a recent sale and assumes it changes the figure used for their return. The first step is to identify the statutory valuation date for the period concerned. Today’s market is not automatically the relevant market.

Revenue states that the valuation date of 1 November 2025 applies to the 2026–2030 period. Its online valuation tool offers area-based guidance rather than an individual valuation of each home (Revenue, 2026b). Check Revenue’s current guidance for the return you are completing and for any issue specific to the property.

Use evidence that fits the question

A nearby transaction can help, but it must be understood. Consider the date, condition, size, accommodation, and characteristics of the property sold. A newly renovated house may tell you relatively little about a neighbouring home requiring substantial work unless the difference is assessed.

The purpose here is to support a reasonable view at the relevant date. It is not to choose the lowest figure visible on a search result or the highest asking price in the neighbourhood. Keep the reasoning consistent and retain the evidence used.

If the property changed after the valuation date, record that distinction. A later refurbishment may alter today’s sale prospects without describing the house as it stood on the earlier date. Equally, later deterioration should not simply be projected backwards.

Keep a concise evidence file

Save the relevant information rather than relying on memory. That might include particulars of comparable transactions, photographs showing condition at the date, and notes explaining material differences. A professional report, where obtained, should state its purpose and date clearly.

Identify uncertainties early. An unusual property, mixed use, or an unclear property interest may need more specific advice. A standard area guide cannot resolve every individual circumstance. Revenue or an appropriate adviser can clarify the tax treatment, while a valuer can address the valuation question within an agreed scope.

Avoid mixing an LPT figure with sales advice

If you are considering selling, ask for advice on the current market separately. Buyers will consider the property offered today and the alternatives available to them. An LPT valuation prepared for a specified historical date has a different purpose.

The useful habit is to put the purpose and date together whenever a figure is discussed. “For LPT at the relevant valuation date” tells the reader something important. “The house is worth that” leaves too much unsaid. A small amount of precision at the beginning can prevent a good deal of confusion later.