Deadline nears for septic tank tax

Whether you are in agreement with the septic tank tax or not, time is running out to register your waste water system before the registration deadline of Feb 1, 2013.

The levy is popularly known as the septic tank tax, but it applies to all types of domestic waste water systems, including septic tanks, “bio-cycles“, storage tanks, drains, percolation areas, and other forms of systems for treatment of waste water, including systems connected to mobile homes or caravans. Where a property is connected to a public or group type scheme, which is already required to be registered under pre-existing legislation, there is no need to register now. However, that is about as far as exemptions go. All other domestic systems are required to be registered, including properties that are let, whether to private tenants or to a local authority, and properties that are vacant.

The registration fee is now €50. Registration can be done online at www.protectourwater.ie with payment made using a debit or credit card. Alternatively, registrations forms are available from libraries and city/county councils, and if registering by post, payment can be made by cheque, postal order or bank draft.

Unlike the property tax and non-principal private residence charge, if your waste water system registration is not made on time, there are no statutory additional monthly penalties.

However, the non-payment of the levy is an offence.

The legislation allows for any property to be inspected, however the intention is that those properties which pose greatest risk will be inspected as a priority.

Depending on the household income, there may be some financial assistance available for properties which need remedial works, having failed an inspection.

Grants (see table) are only available after the inspection has been undertaken, and you should check with your local council that a grant is available before any remedial works are undertaken.

There are some catches: the grant is only available if the property has been registered on time by Feb 1, 2013.

Also, to sell or transfer a property, you will require a certificate of registration.

Environment Minister Phil Hogan said last week that 60% of owners with septic tanks had registered their systems, and systems not registered will be at increased risk of inspection.

Over 98% of those who registered had done so when the early €5 fee applied.

But there was a significant increase in recent online registrations, running at 1,024 per day in the middle of last week, compared to 205 earlier in the week.

Based on the 2011 census, there are 497,281 septic tanks or similar systems in Ireland. Based on census figures, the percentage registered by Jan 14 varied from 3% in the Dublin City Council area to 86% for Kerry Co Council. Percentages in other Munster counties were 73% in Clare, 65% for Cork City Council, 49% for Cork Co Council, 37% in Limerick City Council, 57% in Limerick Co Council, 64% in North Tipperary, 60% in South Tipperary, 58% in Waterford City Council, and 49% in Waterford Co Council.

*More info at www.protectourwater.ie