Property tax rates still undecided, says department

A DECISION on the rates of a value-based property tax has yet to be made, homeowners have been told. It comes amid fears that almost €1,000 a year will be levied on the average family house.

The Government has set up an expert group to look at the issue and produce its recommendations by late February or early March — leading to speculation that the charge will be introduced as early as 2013.

The site valuation charge, which will replace the €100 fee to be paid in 2012, was due to be put in place in 2014 under the EU/IMF bailout deal.