The Egyptian Real Estate Tax Authority has introduced an update to its electronic application, providing an alternative for citizens who face difficulties in locating their properties on the map. This update enables users to manually enter their property details, which will then be verified by the authority in collaboration with the executing company. This change aims to facilitate the registration process and alleviate issues encountered by citizens.
According to Dr. Fadaa Fawad, Deputy Head of the Real Estate Tax Authority, the modification was made after identifying challenges faced by some citizens in using the map feature. The goal is to create a unified national project that assigns a unique national real estate number to each property, ensuring it is not duplicable. This project is part of a broader effort to enhance property registration and taxation processes.
The updated application allows citizens to access data linked to their unified national real estate number through the map feature. However, for those who encounter difficulties, the authority now offers a manual data entry option. This approach seeks to balance the need for accurate property data with the practical challenges faced by users in navigating the application's mapping feature.
Dr. Fawad explained that citizens can benefit from a "leniency" provision if they have no prior dealings with the tax authority. If a property is assessed without notifying the citizen of the due tax value, submitting a tax return enables the authority to start calculations from a new point, without retroactively applying to previous years, provided the return is submitted according to the required procedures.
The authority has specified certain amounts that can be paid under account to increase the additional discount for citizens. These include 200, 500, 400, and 1000 Egyptian pounds for different types of properties. These amounts are not final tax values but rather payments under account for the tax due on January 1, 2027. The values are set to be modest to encourage a higher discount percentage for citizens.
Dr. Fawad distinguished between payments under account and the determination of tax values. The tax assessment will be conducted according to the law and recent amendments, using a pricing map that categorizes areas into homogenous locations. The fair pricing of properties relies on multiple information sources, including sales values, rental contracts, and prices declared by governmental and non-governmental entities.
Citizens have the right to object to the assessment if they believe it is unfair or does not reflect the property's actual value. The application will include a dedicated pathway for objections in upcoming phases. An impartial committee will review objections, having the authority to confirm or reduce the assessment based on their findings. This process ensures that citizens can review and challenge assessments if necessary.
Key points
- The Real Estate Tax Authority's update allows for manual data entry to facilitate property registration.
- A unified national real estate number is being introduced as part of a broader project to improve property registration.
- Citizens can object to tax assessments if they believe they are unfair or inaccurate.
