1.2m have paid the household charge

Almost 1.2m homeowners have paid the household charge for 2012, but those who have not face a €100 penalty on top of the charge itself if they do not make the payment by Jul 1.

Revenue confirmed yesterday that from the end of June, it will begin deducting estimates of the new property tax from people’s payroll or social welfare payments if they have not paid that charge by then.

The Government said the 1,198,091 people who have registered their property for the household charge equates to a compliance rate of 74% nationally. The household charge applies to 2012 only and, from Jul 1, will be replaced by the local property tax, which is to be collected by the Revenue Commissioners. The local government system will not be processing household charge payments from then.