I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that a wide range of payment options have been made available to liable persons, which will allow them to pay their Local Property Tax (LPT) liability for 2013 in full or by way of phased payments between July and December 2013. This range of options available means that property owners can choose a method of payment that suits their particular circumstances. For those wishing to pay in cash, they can pay weekly, monthly or they can pay the charge in a single payment, using one of three approved payment service providers, who are An Post TaxPay, Payzone and Omnivend.
I am further informed that the LPT booklet that issued to all property owners along with the recent general issue of LPT Returns includes detailed guidance on each payment option and sets out what steps the property owner must take when making payments. I understand that the LPT booklet explains at page 7 that cash payments can be made in full.
The Revenue Commissioners also advise that although the paper LPT Return form only provides the option to pay LPT by cash in weekly or monthly instalments, liable persons wishing to pay their LPT liability in cash, should choose either the weekly or monthly option on the LPT Return, even where they intend to make one lump sum payment in cash. This way the Revenue Commissioners, when processing the LPT Return, will be made aware of the owner’s payment preference. I am further advised that where a liable person wishes to pay their LPT in full using cash, all payment service providers have been informed to accept the lump sum payment and I understand that some property owners have already paid in full using cash via An Post. Although the option to pay in full by cash is not included on the LPT Return, I am satisfied that this should not impede a property owner who wishes to pay their LPT charge this way and liable persons are already doing so.
I am further advised by the Commissioners that it was not possible to include the names of the three payment service providers on the LPT Return or in the booklet, as negotiations with these service providers were still ongoing when these documents were being produced. When the negotiations were successfully completed, Revenue published the names of the three payment service providers on the Revenue website. In addition, Revenue has also been working closely with the Citizens Information Service to optimise the opportunities for property owners, particularly the elderly and those without internet access, to obtain advice on LPT (including the names of the payment service providers) and assistance in completing their LPT Return. In addition, Revenue had a number of meetings, in advance of the general issue of Returns, with organisations representing Older Persons, where the question of whether An Post would accept LPT payments was discussed and clarified. Furthermore, Revenue has sought to use all opportunities in interviews with various sections of the media to advise property owners of where they could pay their LPT in cash.
Finally, I am satisfied that the Revenue Commissioners have put a significant amount of information into the public domain on payment options and both the LPT Return and booklet covers this in some detail. It is also open to any property owner who has a query on any aspect of the various payment options to call Revenue’s dedicated LPT Helpline on 1890 200255.
