Many owners whose properties became part of the Nicosia municipality after the local government reform were shocked to receive their municipal property tax bills.
Compared to last year, the amounts in the March 2025 installments have increased by 50%, while the deadline for payment has been significantly shortened.
Whereas in 2024 property owners had until the end of September to pay the tax, the deadline is now 30 April. In addition, bills for 2025 have been sent out since January, and the delivery process can take up to eight weeks, further reducing the time available to clear arrears.
Some property owners gave specific examples of dramatic tax increases. A resident of the former municipality of Aglandja, for example, paid €75.55 last year and will pay €110.62 in 2025. Conversely, a resident of Agios Pavlos paid €43.17 in 2024 and now owes €62.96. It should be noted that in some cases the increase was less significant: a bill of €14.39 last year rose to €20.99.
Most of the outraged owners, suspecting a mistake, contacted the Nicosia municipality but were told it was the new tax rate.
According to official information on the municipality's website, the rate is now 0.035% of the assessed value of the property, and late payment is subject to a fine of 10 per cent of the tax.
As this situation has caused a public outcry, the issue will be discussed in the Interior Committee of Parliament soon. The Cypriot interior ministry has already proposed restrictions on tax increases, but municipalities insist that tax levies are within their powers.
The local government reform that led to the merger of municipalities was originally conceived as a way to improve efficiency and redistribute the tax burden fairly. However, the sudden and significant increase in levies without prior warning caused discontent among residents and forced the authorities to intervene.