The number of residents choosing to receive their property tax (NĪN) payment notices electronically has grown at a faster rate than ever before. This is the first year that more than half—52%—of property tax notices have been delivered electronically to individuals. The proportion of notices delivered via e-address has also exceeded those sent via email for the first time, according to data compiled by “ZZ Dats.”
By the end of February 2025, Latvian municipalities had prepared 1,044,496 property tax payment notices for individuals—the majority of which were already electronic, with 27% delivered to e-addresses and 25% via email. The remaining residents still received these notices in printed form via mail, creating additional expenses for local governments. Over the course of the year, the number of notices sent by mail in Latvia and abroad has decreased by 27%.
“We commend residents for signing up to receive property tax payment notices electronically. For the first time since this issue was raised, we see that the statistics are so positive. The information and motivation campaigns carried out by local governments have also played a significant role in the increase in electronic notices. Our observations show that, following the increase in “Latvijas Pasts” rates, local governments encouraged residents to register to receive payment notices electronically, and this has yielded clear results—the number of electronically delivered NIN payment notices has increased significantly. This has not only offset the significant rate hike by “Latvijas Pasts,” but also saved Latvian municipalities several hundred thousand euros. We are pleased with what has been achieved, but it is even more important not to stop and to continue effectively utilizing digital opportunities to further increase the proportion of NIN payment notices delivered electronically next year,” notes Edžus Žeiris, developer of the www.epakalpojumi.lv portal and director of “ZZ Dats.”
It is evident that e-addresses are being used more and more actively; this year, local governments have sent nearly 50% more notices via e-address than last year. It should be noted that if a property owner already receives their NIN payment notice via email, after registering their e-address, future notices will be sent automatically only to that address.
New municipalities join the leaders
In 2025, more than half—52%—of municipalities exceeded the symbolic 50% threshold for payment notices sent electronically to residents. Last year, only the municipalities of Ādaži, Kuldīga, Ogre, and Olaine achieved this.
This year, in some municipalities, more than 60% of property tax payment notices were sent to residents electronically—67.5% in Ādaži Municipality, 64.6% in Kuldīga Municipality, 63% in Tukums Municipality, 62.3% in Olaine Municipality, 62.2% in Preiļi Municipality, 61.5% in Mārupe Municipality, 60.3% in Saulkrasti Municipality, and 60% in Ķekava Municipality. The lowest rate—32.8% of property tax payment notices sent electronically—was in Rēzekne Municipality. Meanwhile, the sharpest percentage increase in the number of property tax payment notices sent electronically this year, compared to last year, was in Tukums Municipality and Dienvidkurzeme Municipality—42%.
Residents who receive property tax payment notices in their mailboxes are encouraged to sign up to receive them electronically in the future, allowing municipalities to invest the savings into development. “ZZ Dats” has been raising this issue for several years, noting that the preparation and delivery of property tax notices by mail costs Latvian municipalities more than one million euros annually. Estimates show that for a medium-sized municipality, mailing property tax notices costs around twenty thousand euros annually.
The information was prepared using data on real estate tax payment notices sent by Latvian municipalities to individuals as of February 26, 2025.
Any individual can sign up on the portal www.epakalpojumi.lv within a few minutes to receive their property tax payment notice electronically, thereby saving budget funds that the municipality could redirect to other purposes:
- Property owners must authenticate themselves on the portal www.epakalpojumi.lv using online banking or e-signature authentication tools.
- In the section “Real Estate” > “Email and SMS Registration,” you must specify the municipality, email address, and mobile phone number. By providing a mobile phone number, you can sign up for SMS reminders about the approaching real estate tax payment deadline.
- Confirm the accuracy of the entered email address by opening the link in the email confirmation message you received.
For individuals and legal entities, once the official email address is activated, no further action is required, and the municipality will automatically send the real estate tax payment notice to the official email address next time. If the owner does not have electronic authentication means, the application to receive the property tax payment notice electronically can be filled out at municipal customer service centers. If a resident owns multiple properties in different municipalities, a separate application must be submitted to each municipality.
