Starting January 1, 2027, Moldova will begin applying new assessed values to 6.5 million real estate properties—including apartments, houses, land parcels, and commercial and industrial properties. For many owners, this is the first significant update to their property valuations in two decades. According to the Agency for Geodesy, Cartography, and Cadastre, the average cadastral value of apartments has roughly tripled. However, this does not mean that taxes will automatically triple: the final amount will depend on decisions made by local authorities.
The previous mass appraisal was conducted between 2004 and 2011. During that time, real estate prices changed significantly, new residential neighborhoods emerged, and the appeal of certain areas increased. Meanwhile, the tax base continued to rely on outdated data. Certain categories of real estate, including rural residential homes and agricultural land, had never previously undergone a mass appraisal.
The cadastral value is not equal to the market price of the property. It is calculated using established models and serves, in particular, as the basis for taxation.
The agency cites the example of Chisinau, where the current residential property tax rate is 0.185%. For an apartment whose owner currently pays 687 lei, applying the minimum rate of 0.05% to the new cadastral value would result in a tax of 555 lei. In other words, even with a nearly threefold increase in the assessed value, the tax payment could be reduced by 132 lei—but only if the minimum rate is applied.
Specific rates for 2027 are to be set by local councils. In the capital, this decision is made by the Chisinau Municipal Council. If the current rate is maintained, the tax will increase along with the cadastral value. Lowering the rate would allow for partial or full compensation for the increase in the assessed value.
For local budgets, the revaluation creates an opportunity to increase revenue without introducing a new tax. For property owners, it means additional expenses related to their property. The increase may be particularly burdensome for retirees and low-income families whose properties are located in areas where prices have risen significantly.
At the same time, updating appraisals can eliminate accumulated disparities. Today, properties that are comparable in market value may have significantly different cadastral valuations and, consequently, be subject to different tax amounts. How much fairer the system becomes depends on the accuracy of the new calculations.
A large-scale revaluation began in 2018 with support from the World Bank. Eight models were developed for various categories of real estate, taking into account location, area, year of construction, utilities, and other characteristics. During public consultations held through the end of July 2026, 7,429 objections were received; after reviewing them, the models were revised. In October, property owners submitted another 2,200 requests to correct property parameters.
Errors in area, designated use, or other property characteristics may affect its valuation and future tax liability. You can verify the information and request corrections through the geodata.gov.md portal.
Going forward, the cadastral value is scheduled to be updated every three years. This will allow for market changes to be taken into account without long gaps and prevent a situation where the government's property valuation fails to reflect its current value for decades.
The consequences of the revaluation may extend beyond taxation. For example, when determining heating subsidies for the 2026–2027 season, a property-based criterion applies: the total cadastral value of the real estate owned by household members must not exceed 1 million lei. This season, the authorities decided to use the old assessments. However, if the threshold remains unchanged in the future, applying the new values could exclude some families from the support program, even though their actual incomes will not increase.
The cadastral revaluation is taking place amid other changes that are increasing the financial burden on the population. Starting November 1, online purchases from abroad valued at up to €150 are subject to a 20% VAT, and starting in January 2027, an additional fee of 12 lei per package will be imposed. The tax policy for 2027 also provides for increases in certain excise taxes and changes to the value-added tax on energy resources. At the same time, households are entering the heating season with high gas prices, and a potential increase in electricity prices poses an additional risk to family budgets.
Against this backdrop, an increase in property tax could become yet another expense for citizens. Decisions by local authorities in 2027 will determine whether the reform will correct an outdated appraisal system or result in an additional tax burden for the population. // 03.11.2026 - InfoMarket.