Selling, buying or transferring a property
What is Revenue clearance?
You must obtain Revenue clearance on the sale or transfer of a property. Revenue clearance provides confirmation that the property is fully compliant for Local Property Tax (LPT).
There are two types of Revenue clearance:
- General clearance.
- Specific clearance.
The property does not qualify for either general or specific clearance where there are:
- outstanding or deferred LPT liabilities, or Household Charge (HHC) liabilities
- outstanding LPT returns.
The easiest way for you (the seller) to check this is by logging into LPT online to review your LPT records.
General clearance
General clearance means that you do not need to submit an application to Revenue. General clearance applies if either Condition 1 or Condition 2 outlined below are met.
Condition 1
The sale price is €400,000 or less for properties located outside Dublin.
The sale price is €500,000 or less for properties located in Dublin.
Condition 2
The sale price does not exceed:
- 25% of the upper limit of the valuation band declared as of 1 November 2021
- or
- 25% above the actual declared value for properties above Band 19.
The next LPT valuation date is 1 November 2025. Property owners are required to determine the valuation band of their property and submit this valuation on their LPT Return.
Where a property is sold or transferred after 1 November 2025, the valuation band declared on the LPT Return should reflect the sales price of the property.
Prior to the sale of the property, you (the seller) can obtain general clearance by accessing the LPT online service using:
You should print the Property History Summary from the LPT online service to confirm that there are no outstanding liabilities or returns. This can be used as confirmation that the property is fully compliant for LPT.
If you have claimed an exemption from LPT, this will be reflected in the Property History Summary. You must ensure that any exemption claimed is verified by Revenue before the property can be sold or transferred.
Specific clearance
If you do not meet Condition 1 or Condition 2, you must apply to Revenue for specific clearance. You can apply for specific clearance by completing Form LPT5. On this form, you are required to provide:
- details of the property valuation declared as at 1 November 2021
- and
- relevant information and documentation to support the valuation declared.
You can submit your form through MyEnquiries when you log in to the LPT online service.
Revenue will review the LPT5 application and then issue a decision on whether or not specific clearance can be granted.
The seller does not need to obtain specific clearance in relation to the valuation declared as at 1 May 2013. However, in certain limited cases, Revenue may request further information in relation to this valuation, as part of specific clearance.
If Revenue has issued specific clearance in relation to the valuation date 1 November 2021, no further action is needed. This clearance covers all periods.
Note
Specific clearance applications are generally processed within 12 working days. Please do not contact Revenue for an update until this time frame has elapsed.
Next: Clearance documentation for previous sales