Many local property owners in Luganville still owe substantial amounts in property taxes to the Luganville Municipal Council (LMC). Property Tax Officer Fred Manses told VBTC News that several Vanuatu citizens owning properties in the municipality have not been paying the taxes required under municipal law, resulting in large outstanding amounts.
“Sometimes, we build houses and forget that we still need to pay land rent and property taxes,” Mr. Manses said. “People think building in town is the same as in the village, but there are laws and by-laws in place to protect property and ensure proper development.”
According to Mr. Manses, the outstanding property tax for 2025 alone exceeds VT50 million. To address this, LMC plans to conduct door-to-door collections for property owners who fail to pay their taxes by the first semester of 2026.
“After we issue invoices, we will wait until 1 March. Those who pay are fine, but those who do not will have council staff visit their properties directly,” he explained.
The council aims to collect over VT70 million in property taxes for 2026, enforcing the law to ensure compliance. Mr. Manses added that outstanding payments will continue to be addressed, with council offering resolutions to reduce amounts owed in certain cases.
Property taxes play a vital role in funding council operations, including salaries for staff and supporting development initiatives across Luganville.
