Real Estate Market, Property Valuation, Land Taxation and Capacity Building in Cambodia

Following the »Land Policy Declaration« from July 2009, the Royal Government of Cambodia henceforth has the unique opportunity to implement a land valuation policy by the Council of Land Policy. Land valuation, taxation and capacity building are indispensable elements of a land reform in Cambodia. By improving prior assessment tools for valuation and taxation, Cambodia could serve as an example for the development of taxation in circumstances when rent-seeking, speculation, informal land markets and an unequal land distribution occur. Property taxation – eventually supported by land value increment taxation – will become an important future source of the Cambodian revenue. Taxation should be ideally flanked by a coded, transparent and upgradeable property record system, by actualized or revised land valuation manuals and a holistic land information infrastructure due to international standards.