Question 1: What is the Valuation Roll?
Answer: The Valuation of Land Act Chapter 58:03 as amended in 2009 and 2018, states that the Commissioner of Valuations, and by extension the Valuation Division, is tasked with the preparation of a Valuation Roll. The Valuation Roll is a database which contains, as far as possible, the particulars set out in Section 16 (1) in respect of every parcel of land within Trinidad and Tobago. Some examples of the particulars are the name and postal address of the owner, the situation, description and measurement or area of the land and the address of the land.
Question 2: What is a Return?
Answer: A Return is the form used to provide property data required by the Commissioner of Valuations to prepare the Valuation Roll.
Question 3: Is it mandatory for property owners/occupiers to complete a Return and submit the Return to Valuation Division?
Answer: Yes. In accordance with the Public Notice issued pursuant to Section 29 of the Valuation of Land Act, Chap. 58:03 of the Laws of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, every person in possession of residential land, commercial land, agricultural land or any combination of the above (mixed use) in Trinidad and Tobago is required to furnish to the Commissioner of Valuations a Return containing the particulars required by the Commissioner of Valuations.
Question 4: Is the Valuation Roll, Property Tax or Is the Valuation Division responsible for Property Tax?
Answer: The Valuation Roll is not Property Tax. The Valuation Roll is a record of data on all parcels of land in Trinidad and Tobago inclusive of value. The Valuation Division does not process or collect Property Tax.
Question 5: Is the conduct of site visits/site inspection a legal activity?
Answer: All activities conducted by the Valuation Division inclusive of site visits and site inspections and collection of property data are in accordance with the Valuation of Land Act as amended in 2009 and 2018. These activities are aimed at the creation of the Valuation Roll.
Question 6: What is a Property Identification Number?
Answer: A Property Identification Number or PIN is issued for every property on the Valuation Roll. When the first Valuation Roll takes effect it will replace the Land & Building Number (L&B No.)
Question 7: Can one property be issued more than one (1) Property Identification Number (PIN)?
Answer: Each property shall have only one Property Identification Number (PIN).
Question 8: Why should I provide a copy of my Deed or Certificate of Title/Memorandum of Transfer?
Answer: The Deed or Certificate of Title/Memorandum of Transfer will identify ownership of land/property. If no title document is provided with the Return, the Valuation Division can only identify the submitter of the Return as an Occupier and not an Owner for the Valuation Roll.
Question 9: Can a WASA Bill be used to show ownership?
Answer: No. Only a Deed or Certificate of Title/Memorandum of Transfer can identify ownership of land/property, and likewise, a lease agreement will identify lessor and lessee.
Question 10: Is it an offence to refuse to furnish a Return or other information to the Commissioner of Valuations when required to do so?
Answer: Yes. It is an offence under the Valuation of Land Act to refuse to submit a Return or other information to the Commissioner of Valuations when required to do so.
Question 11: Can “Change of Ownership” be processed at this time?
Answer: Currently the Valuation Roll is being prepared and any change of ownership facilitated during the preparation of the Valuation Roll shall be included in the Valuation Roll when a Return is completed and submitted with the required documents.