Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 October 2013
69. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance the reason an application to have the local property tax deducted from a person's old age pension (details supplied) in Dublin 9 has not been completed despite the application being lodged in July of this year; when this process will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43941/13]
View answerI am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the delay in implementing the preferred Local Property Tax (LPT) payment option in this case occurred because the person in question is not a recipient of the pension type selected on the LPT 1 Return. I understand the LPT deduction at source scheme for Department of Social Protection (DSP) pensions operates by Revenue advising DSP of the individual deductions via electronic file transfer. The individual case data is transferred between the Revenue and DSP computer systems and is downloaded exactly as provided by the taxpayer. Revenue cannot validate the accuracy of the information provided, including the selected payment type, in advance of the electronic file transfer. Specific problems are only identified when an individual transaction fails. Once a transaction fails, DSP notifies Revenue who in turn contacts the taxpayer.
Revenue has only recently received confirmation of the transaction failure in this case and is making immediate direct contact with the person in question to discuss the various payment options available to her, particularly having regard to the period of time that has passed since the LPT 1 Return was lodged. I am assured that the Revenue official making direct contact with the person will outline the various payment options and will assist her in setting up whichever option suits her individual circumstances best.
