Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 November 2023
205. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider affording property owners who are registering for the vacant property tax more than two options with respect to choosing the status of the property, given that at present the only available options are principal private residence or rented; if he has considered providing an option as licensee or caretaker or other; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52445/23]
View answerVacant Homes Tax (VHT) is provided for in Part 22B of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 (TCA). A residential property will be within the scope of the new tax if it has been occupied as a dwelling for less than 30 days in a chargeable period. Each chargeable period will commence on 1 November and end on 31 October of the following year.
The first chargeable period for VHT was 1 November 2022 to 31 October 2023. The first self-assessed returns were due on 7 November 2023 and the tax will be payable on 1 January 2024. For the first chargeable period, VHT is charged at a rate equal to three times the base Local Property Tax (LPT) liability for the property and is required to be paid in addition to the property’s LPT liability.
The chargeable person for VHT is the person liable to LPT in respect of the property. He or she is responsible for filing VHT Returns, making payments, and submitting any necessary documentation to Revenue.
I am advised by Revenue that the online VHT Portal which can be accessed through myAccount, ROS, or through the Local Property Tax (LPT) Online Portal has been specifically designed on a step-by-step basis in accordance with Part 22B of the TCA.
Step 1 shows the chargeable person the property or properties linked to their Revenue record, and the person is asked to specify whether each property was vacant, occupied, or if there was a change of ownership in the chargeable period.
Step 2 requires the chargeable person to provide further information depending on his or her response to step 1. For properties declared as vacant, the person is given the option of claiming an exemption, where appropriate. For properties identified as occupied, the owner is asked to advise if it’s occupied as a principal private residence, if there’s a tenancy in place, or if no tenancy is in place.
The third option covers scenarios where there is occupancy by a licensee, caretaker or other person. For VHT purposes, the key question is whether or not the property is occupied, which is provided for by the three options. On that basis, there are no plans, or necessity, to include additional options as suggested.
Further information in relation to VHT is available on the Revenue website at: www.revenue.ie/en/property/vacant-homes-tax/index.aspx.
Alternatively, individuals can contact Revenue through MyEnquiries, by telephone at (01) 738 36 26 or by post to: Freepost, LPT/ VHT Branch, PO Box 1, Limerick.
