When there are changes to a commercial property, it is important for the owner or agent to fill out a Commercial Property Changes Form (CPC Form). This is required in order for the department to understand what modifications have been undertaken to each valuation unit and the details of these alterations.

In accordance with the Land Valuation and Tax Act 1967, an occupier with a lease of three years or more is viewed as the legal owner and therefore liable for land tax. This is why it is important for the Department to have all the appropriate information to hand in quantifying who should be responsible for land tax following the changes highlighted in a completed CPC Form.

In addition to completing a CPC Form, it is standard practice for copies of signed leases to be requested by the department in relation to a tenant’s occupation.

Copies of the signed leases are required by the department in order to confirm the following information:

1. A description of the demised leased area, including the floor area in square feet/square meters and any storage or car parking leased to the tenant.
2. The term of the lease in years. Note that tenants of a lease of 3 years or more are regarded as owners for land tax purposes and are served with a proposal to bring a unit into the Valuation List.
3. The legal name of the tenant.
4. The registered street address of the tenant to which a proposal should be sent.
5. Rental arrangements agreed under the lease, including details of any tenant incentives

All lease information, like all other information collected by the department, is treated as confidential and used solely for land taxation purposes and is not released or shared with any other government department or third party.