Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 September 2013
204. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Finance the reason the local property tax deduction from a pension has not commenced in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Wexford; the action being taken to rectify this backlog; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37804/13]
View answerI am advised by Revenue that arrangements for deduction of Local Property Tax (LPT) at source from payments made by the Department of Social Protection (DSP) were successfully implemented with effect from 1 July 2013 and all requests for this payment method have either been fully processed or, in a small number of cases, are being discussed by the liable person and Revenue where the automated deduction at source did not happen. For example, in the case to which the Deputy refers, deductions were delayed because the person in question is not a recipient of the DSP payment scheme selected by him on the LPT Return.
The information provided by those opting to pay LPT through deduction from a DSP payment scheme is electronically transferred between the computer systems of both offices. Revenue cannot validate the accuracy of the information in advance of the electronic file transfer and incorrect information is only identified when a transaction fails.
As soon as the transaction relating to the person in question failed, DSP identified the error and confirmed to Revenue the correct payment scheme details. Revenue then issued an amended deduction instruction on 25 July, the first LPT payment was deducted by DSP on 15 August and payments are being deducted on a weekly basis since. 15 August was the earliest possible date to commence deductions in line with the payment frequency schedules.
Revenue has written to the person in question assuring him that his LPT obligations are operating correctly.
