Landlord pays €80k to cover bill under secondary home tax

One landlord paid €80,000 to the exchequer for the €200 non-principal private residence tax last year.

Figures provided by Phil Hogan, the environment minister, show that one unidentified landlord registered 400 units for the tax.

The figures show that, in 2010 and 2009, a landlord paid over €80,000, but the information does not confirm whether it is the same landlord who has paid over €80,000 for the three years of 2011, 2010, and 2009.

Mr Hogan further said another landlord paid between €40,000 and €60,000 last year for as many as to 300 houses.

The figures provided by Mr Hogan in a series of written Dáil replies to Labour TD Gerald Nash show the numbers of landlords registered as owning between 101 and 200 houses increased last year from 29 to 36.

The 36 last year each paid between €20,000 and €40,000 to the State.

The data shows the numbers registered as owning between 51 and 100 houses also rose last year from 116 to 117, with those owners paying from €10,200 to €20,000.

Mr Hogan also confirmed that 135,971 people paid the €200 tax last year for one unit, with a further 45,397 paying the tax for between two to 10 units

The total income raised from the tax has been in decline since it was introduced in 2009.

Just over €72m was raised from the tax in 2009, compared to €71.2m in 2010 and €67.7m last year.

The figures show the amount raised from late payment charges has declined from €6.3m in 2009 to €2.1m last year.

Underlining the increased level of compliance in relation to the tax, Mr Hogan said 19,230 accounts last year incurred late registration fees and charges compared to 23,730 in 2010.

The number of accounts for the tax has steadily grown since 2009. That year, there were 165,898 relating to 301,835 properties. This grew to 180,389 concerning 339,431 properties last year.

Collection for the tax in 2012 began on Mar 31, and those liable for it have until June 30 to avoid late payment fees.