Legal Definitions - land revenue

Land revenue refers to the income or tax collected by a government or public authority from individuals or entities based on their ownership, use, or productivity of land. It is a fundamental way for governments to generate funds from real estate within their jurisdiction, often used to finance public services and infrastructure.

• Example 1: In a historical context, a feudal lord might have required serfs or tenants to pay a portion of their harvest or a fixed sum of money each year for the right to cultivate the lord's land. This payment was directly tied to the land they worked and its agricultural output.

  Explanation: This payment is a form of land revenue because it is a recurring tax or fee levied by the ruling authority (the feudal lord) on individuals for their use and cultivation of specific land, providing income to the lord.

• Example 2: A modern municipal government sends out annual property tax bills to all homeowners and commercial property owners within its city limits. The amount due is calculated based on the assessed value of their land and any buildings on it, and these funds are used to pay for local schools, police, and road maintenance.

  Explanation: This property tax is a clear instance of land revenue. It is a mandatory payment to a government entity, directly linked to the ownership and value of real estate, serving as a primary source of income for the local government.

• Example 3: A state government owns vast tracts of forest land. It issues permits to logging companies, allowing them to harvest timber from designated areas for a specific period. In return, the logging companies pay a fee to the state based on the volume of timber extracted or the acreage used.

  Explanation: The fees paid by the logging companies represent land revenue. These are payments made to a public authority for the commercial use and extraction of resources from government-owned land, generating income for the state from its natural real estate assets.