Real property located in Finland is subject to real estate tax (kiinteistövero; fastighetsskatt).  The revenue will benefit the local municipality, i.e. the local town, city or rural commune where the property or building is located.  Land used in forestry or agriculture is exempted.

Real estate tax is payable by the property owners of taxable property at the beginning of the calendar year.  The Tax Administration delivers real-estate-tax invoices to owners in late July and early August.

The amounts of real estate tax are based on the taxable value of the property.  Tax rates vary in different municipalities between 0.5% and 1.0% of the tax value.  The rate for residential houses (not summer cottages) used for living is between 0.22% and 0.5% of tax value.

Real estate tax documents soon to be mailed to owners of real property and buildings.

A property located in the territory of Finland is subject to real estate tax. It is levied on almost all kinds of real property with the exception of forests and agricultural land.  The bank slips and decision texts are now being produced, and will be sent to taxpayers in July and August.

The payer of real estate tax is the registered owner as of the beginning of the calendar year (the date being 1 January, regardless of the calendar holidays/calendar business days). The rate of tax is determined by the local municipality. The base is the taxable value of the real property as appraised during the previous year.

Thus, your 2009 base of real estate tax is the 2008 tax value of your real property.  The tax revenue will go to the municipality in which the property is located.

The due dates are 16 September 2009 and 3 November 2009. You can find the amounts and the respective due dates printed in the bank slip section of the document package.