Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 January 2013
282. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding the property tax and those in shared ownership properties; if they are liable for the tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4522/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Finance (Local Property Tax) Act 2012 provides that a liability for local property tax will arise where a person owns a residential property on the liability date which will be 1 May 2013 for the year 2013 and for subsequent years, 1 November in the preceding year. Where a property is owned by more than one person, joint owners are to be jointly and severally liable for the payment of the tax. This means that Revenue can pursue one person for the full liability and payment by that person discharges the tax liability of all joint owners. For the purposes of completing a local property tax return, joint owners are required to agree a valuation for the property. A single return should be submitted on behalf of the joint owners. If the local property tax is not paid, the Revenue Commissioners can proceed to collect the tax from any of the owners.
If the Deputy is referring to formal Local Authority shared ownership schemes, the position is that details of the arrangements for payment of Local Property Tax in respect of local authority housing have yet to be finalised and my understanding is that there are a range of different arrangements which may need to be catered for. Discussions are ongoing between my Department, the Revenue Commissioners and the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and further information will be provided in due course.
