Michael Healy-Rae
Question:224. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Finance his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding the household charge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22874/16]
View answerTuesday, 19 July 2016
Questions (224)
Written answers
Section 156 of the Finance (Local Property Tax) Act 2012 converted any arrears of Household Charge (HHC) that were still outstanding on 1 July 2013 to a Local Property Tax (LPT) liability of €200 per property, and made Revenue responsible for collecting the increased amounts. Prior to 1 July 2013, collection of the original €100 HHC was the responsibility of the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) on behalf of the Local Authorities.
As part of the handover of responsibility, Revenue received the HHC database from the LGMA and carried out a comprehensive data matching exercise with its own LPT Property Register. The data matching exercise produced a list of properties in respect of which the HHC did not appear to be paid. The property in question was included on this list.
As part of a comprehensive communications strategy around HHC Revenue very clearly stated that it could not be absolutely certain that the list was fully accurate due to the format of the information held on the LGMA database, for example, capturing the details of the person that physically paid the bill rather than the liable person and not capturing data in respect of exemptions/waivers. Revenue also advised that where property owners received a payment demand and were of the opinion that the charge was not correctly due they should contact the LGMA or their local authority to clarify the issue.
In regard to the property in question, Revenue accepts that the property owner made every effort to pay the original HHC liability of €100 to his Local Authority. On that basis Revenue will accept a payment of €100 as full settlement of the outstanding charge. A member of the LPT team will make direct contact with the person in the coming days to confirm the arrangement and complete the transaction.
Finally, Revenue is not in a position to explain the failure to cash the cheque as it was submitted by the person to the Local Authority in 2012 prior to Revenue assuming responsibility for HHC.