The Ministry of Economy and Finance has exempted 20 of Phnom Penh’s communes from paying a property tax for 2011, according to a statement released by the ministry.

The communes in question are in the capital’s Sen Sok, Dangor, Meanchey and Russey Keo districts, according to the statement.

Property owners who had already paid the tax would have that amount applied to their obligation, if any, for 2012, the statement said.

Ministry officials could not be reached to explain why these communes were exempt from last year’s tax.

Bonna Realty Group CEO and National Valuers Association of Cambodia president Sung Bonna said yesterday the communes had been previously been part of Kandal province, which did not levy a tax on property owners.

But a move by the Cambodian government last year had shifted the boundaries of Phnom Penh to include the communes, removing them from Kandal, the Post previously reported.

As a result, the government  decided against the complex procedures involved in transferring property documents such as land titles between local governments, and chose instead to enforce the property tax this year.

“The process is complicated, so paying the tax in 2012 is better,” Sung Bonna said.