Identification of land liable to RZLT
Wicklow County Council has prepared a draft map of the land considered to be in scope for the RZLT as of October 1, 2022. The total area of land identified on these maps is 2,146.3ha.
The draft map is available to view online (interactive map and pdfs) and in hard copy from November 01 2022 at the following:
- Click HERE TO VIEW THE RZLT MAPS
- Printed copies of maps will be available to view at Wicklow County Council HQ in Wicklow Town from 01 November 2022.
- PDFs of the maps can be viewed below from 01 November 2022.
Any interested individuals or parties may make submissions in respect of land on the draft map. This is dealt with in further detail below.
Please note that although they are included on the map, residential properties are not subject to RZLT if they are subject to Local Property Tax. It is not necessary to make a submission to remove this type of residential property from the map.
Submissions can be made by the public on the draft map from November 1st 2022 until January 1st 2023. These submissions can challenge the inclusion of particular lands on the draft map on the basis that those lands do not meet the criteria set out within the relevant legislation; the date on which the land is considered to meet this criteria; or can request a change of zoning. During the draft map stage, submissions can also identify additional land which appears to meet the criteria and so falls into scope and which may be placed on the supplemental map.
A supplemental map will be published on 1 May 2023 identifying additional land considered to be in scope as a result of a change of zoning, servicing or where the local authority becomes aware of the fact that land, which didn’t appear on the draft map, may meet the criteria for being in scope, such as where this has been identified during submissions. The supplemental map will also be on public display and open to submissions which may challenge the inclusion of additional land on the map.
Land appearing on both the draft and supplemental maps, as amended to take into account the outcome of submissions made in respect of the land on these maps, will be included on the final map of land in scope for the tax in the local authority area to be published on 1 December 2023. This land will be subject to the tax unless it is exempt as a residential property, as outlined above.
The RZLT map as prepared and published by the local authorities includes lands that meet the relevant criteria for inclusion on the map as set out in the legislation.
The administration of the RZLT is a matter for the Revenue Commissioners.
The legislation underpinning the RZLT may be found at Part 22A of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997. Guidance in respect of the administration of the tax may be found here
The Residential Zoned Land Tax Guidelines, as prepared and published by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, to aid planning authorities in publishing the maps can be viewed here.
You can find answers to some frequently asked questions about the RZLT and how to make a submission in the 'RZLT -Your Questions Answered'. Here.
Criteria for inclusion in map
Section 653B of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 states:-
In this Part, a reference to land which satisfies the relevant criteria is a reference to land that—
(a) is included in a development plan, in accordance with section 10(2) (a) of the Act of 2000, or local area plan, in accordance with section 19(2)(a) of the Act of 2000, zoned—
(i) solely or primarily for residential use, or
(ii) for a mixture of uses, including residential use,
(b) it is reasonable to consider may have access, or be connected, to public infrastructure and facilities, including roads and footpaths, public lighting, foul sewer drainage, surface water drainage and water supply, necessary for dwellings to be developed and with sufficient service capacity available for such development, and
(c) it is reasonable to consider is not affected, in terms of its physical condition, by matters to a sufficient extent to preclude the provision of dwellings, including contamination or the presence of known archaeological or historic remains, but which is not land—
(i) that is referred to in paragraph (a)(i) and, having regard only to development (within the meaning of the Act of 2000) which is not unauthorised development (within the meaning of the Act of 2000), is in use as premises, in which a trade or profession is being carried on, that is liable to commercial rates, that it is reasonable to consider is being used to provides services to residents of adjacent residential areas,
(ii) that is referred to in paragraph (a)(ii), unless it is reasonable to consider that the land is vacant or idle,
(iii) that it is reasonable to consider is required for, or is integral to, occupation by—
(I) social, community or governmental infrastructure and facilities, including infrastructure and facilities used for the purposes of public administration or the provision of education or healthcare,
(II) transport facilities and infrastructure,
(III) energy infrastructure and facilities,
(IV) telecommunications infrastructure and facilities,
(V) water and wastewater infrastructure and facilities,
(VI) waste management and disposal infrastructure, or
(VII) recreational infrastructure, including sports facilities and playgrounds,
(iv) that is subject to a statutory designation that may preclude development,
or
(v) on which the derelict sites levy is payable in accordance with the Derelict Sites Act 1990.