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Household Charge Collection

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 September 2013

Wednesday, 18 September 2013

Questions (213)

Ann Phelan

Question:

213. Deputy Ann Phelan asked the Minister for Finance the statistics for outstanding household charges for counties Carlow and Kilkenny; the number of these outstanding payments that will incur penalties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37951/13]

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Written answers

I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that they have recently received details from the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) of those properties where the Household Charge has been paid or, in respect of which a waiver from the charge has been granted. The Commissioners advise that they have a significant amount of work to do to match the LGMA’s Household Charge Register with the Local Property Tax Register in order to identify cases where the 2012 Household Charge is still unpaid. In addition, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government signed a Regulation, on 27 August last, that further amended the list of “Unfinished Housing Estates” entitling certain additional residential properties to a waiver from the 2012 Household Charge. Accordingly, information on outstanding Household Charges is not currently available and is not likely to be available for some time. Compliance data for the Local Property Tax, broken down on a local authority basis and including Carlow and Kilkenny County Councils, are published on the Commissioners' website at www.revenue.ie/en/tax/lpt/lpt-preliminary-data.pdf.

Section 156 of the Finance (Local Property Tax) Act 2012, as amended, provides that where the Household Charge for 2012 had not been paid by 1 July 2013, the arrears amount is increased to €200 and is regarded as Local Property Tax. The Revenue Commissioners have put in place facilities for property owners to pay the €200 arrears, using any of the following methods: by accessing the LPT online system on Revenue’s website, www.revenue.ie, using their PPSN, Property ID and PIN, and choosing a payment option from direct debit, deduction at source from salary or occupational pension, deduction at source from certain payments received from the Department of Social Protection, deduction at source from scheme payments received from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, single debit authority, debit or credit card, or cash payments through approved payment service providers; by calling the LPT Helpline - 1890 200 255 - and paying by debit or credit card; or by cheque, postal order or similar which should be sent to Local Property Tax Branch, Revenue Commissioners, PO Box 1, Limerick. The Commissioners recommend that customers note their Property ID and PPSN or tax reference number on the back of the cheque or postal order.

I am informed that to date some €462,000 has been paid directly to the Revenue Commissioners in respect of more than 2,100 properties. Further information on household charge arrears is available in the "frequently asked questions section" of Revenue's local property tax website. Revenue’s priority has been, and continues to be, the implementation and collection of the local property tax. However, in due course, Revenue will use the various debt recovery powers available to them to collect the €200 arrears which will remain as a legal charge on the property.

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