The Local Property Tax liability date for 2027 is 1 November 2026. If you are the person liable for a residential property on that date, you are responsible for its LPT for the whole of 2027, even if you sell it before 2027 begins. If you are buying or selling around 1 November, the date your purchase or sale completes matters more than the date you agree the price.
A few days can change who Revenue expects to pay next year’s tax.
Why does 1 November decide the following year’s LPT?
LPT uses a liability date each year to establish whether a property is liable and who the liable person is, usually its owner. The check takes place on 1 November for the following calendar year. The tax is not divided automatically according to how many months each person owns the property in 2027.
The valuation date is a different concept. For properties already in the current valuation period, the value assessed at 1 November 2025 generally sets the LPT valuation for 2026 to 2030. The annual liability date still determines who is responsible for each year’s charge. If a property becomes liable for the first time later, Revenue’s rules for newly liable properties also need checking.
Put simply: the property’s valuation helps determine how much LPT is charged; the annual 1 November liability date determines who owes the following year’s charge.
Buying near 1 November 2026: which side pays for 2027?
Your purchase completes before 1 November
If you become the owner before 1 November 2026 and the property is liable for LPT, you will generally be the liable person for all of 2027. This remains true if you move in later or let the property.
For example, if a purchase completes on 30 October 2026, the buyer will normally be the owner on 1 November and liable for 2027 LPT. The seller’s liability for 2026 arose from the previous 1 November liability date and must still be addressed on the sale.
Your purchase completes after 1 November
If the seller is still the liable person on 1 November 2026 and completion takes place on 3 November, the seller remains liable to Revenue for the full 2027 charge. Exchanging contracts or going sale agreed before 1 November does not, by itself, transfer ownership or change that year’s LPT liability. Revenue gives the same underlying example for a December sale: the owner on 1 November remains liable for the following year despite selling before that year starts.
Unpaid LPT remains a charge on the property and can affect the buyer. Your solicitor should check the LPT position and clearance documents before closing.
Selling a home or investment property: what changes at the deadline?
If you still own the property on 1 November 2026, budget for its 2027 LPT, even if you expect to complete a sale shortly afterwards. If completion happens before that date, the buyer will generally take on liability for 2027. In either case, the property’s existing returns and payments need attention before the sale closes.
The sale contract may provide for a closing adjustment between buyer and seller. That is an agreement about who ultimately bears a cost between the parties. It does not change who Revenue treats as liable on 1 November. Ask your solicitor to explain any LPT adjustment in the contract and the figures shown on your closing statement.
Revenue requires LPT compliance and appropriate clearance before a sale completes. Sellers should deal with outstanding returns, payments, deferrals and exemption issues in good time. Payments can take up to 72 hours to process.
What about a remortgage or a newly built home?
Remortgaging: Changing lender or refinancing, without changing the owner, does not move the 2027 LPT liability to the bank. The existing owner remains the person to consider for the 1 November check. Your lender or solicitor may still need evidence that the property is LPT compliant.
New builds: Do not assume that a home is outside LPT because nobody has moved in. A newly built property can become liable for the following year when it is occupied or suitable for use as a dwelling on 1 November. If you are due to buy a new build near 1 November 2026, ask when it will be suitable for occupation, when ownership will pass, and what Revenue registration or return is needed.
The same question can arise with a renovated home. A delayed move-in alone does not establish that no LPT is due.
What should you confirm with your solicitor before 1 November?
If a sale is approaching, ask for a clear answer to these questions while there is still time to act:
- When will the sale actually complete? A proposed closing date, a signed contract and a handover of keys are different milestones. Check when ownership will pass.
- Who is likely to be liable on 1 November 2026? Ask what that means for the whole 2027 LPT charge and any agreed closing adjustment.
- Are the property’s LPT records clear? The seller should provide the property ID, valuation details, Property History Summary and applicable Revenue clearance. Check for arrears, deferrals or an unverified exemption.
- Is it a new or recently renovated home? Confirm whether it will be occupied or suitable for use as a dwelling on 1 November and whether Revenue needs an updated return or registration.
- Are you relying on a particular closing date? Tell your solicitor early. A target date is useful for planning, but a transaction is not complete until it actually closes.
If you are keeping your property, check your LPT record and payment arrangements. Investors should budget for the 2027 charge.
A clear answer before you close
The Irish LPT ownership date for the 2027 tax year is 1 November 2026. The person liable for the property on that date owes the 2027 charge, subject to any applicable exemption or other property-specific rule. The timing of completion can therefore affect both your tax position and the figures agreed at closing.
If you are buying, selling or refinancing around the LPT 1 November deadline, HOMS Assist can help you understand the conveyancing documents, check the property’s LPT compliance and make the closing figures clear. Get in touch before the deadline if the timing of your transaction is still being agreed.
This article provides general information about conveyancing and LPT timing, not personal tax advice.
About the author: William Donovan is a seasoned Conveyancing Solicitor and Property Law Expert at HOMS Assist, with nearly three decades of experience in residential property transactions and compliance. His deep understanding of residential property law, reflects his commitment to providing clear, actionable advice to private individuals navigating Ireland’s evolving property landscape.
