Scramble to meet property tax deadline

Revenue is receiving €1.5m daily in local property tax payments, as home owners scramble to meet next Monday’s deadline for payment.

Compliance rates now stand at 88% and are likely to hit 90% by Monday, according to the chairman of the Revenue Commissioners, Josephine Feehily.

However, there are still 100,000 properties not registered for payment with home owners due to get enforcement letters shortly, Ms Feehily warned yesterday.

“We will be starting to send enforcement letters around Easter. It is not going to go away,” she said.

“It is important because, in order to gift, bequeath or sell a home, property tax has to be brought up to date. In the meantime, the tax is growing and attracting an interest rate of 8% a year.”

Speaking to Sean O’Rourke on RTÉ radio, Ms Feehily also warned that those who undervalued their homes in order to attract a lower rate would be vigorously pursued and that Revenue was using modern technology to spy on properties.

“We have a line of sight and we can see people who undervalued their houses by several bands. It shows up on our computers. Using technology and Google maps and street view, we can see the property,” she said, adding genuine reasons for apparent undervaluing would be taken into account.

“The street view is helpful as there may be a reason for a lower value than surrounding properties. It may be a mews house at the end of a row of large detached homes.”

Reminding property owners of Revenue’s power to deduct payment from salaries, Ms Feehily said those who had not fully paid the previous household charge would also be pursued.

“They should go online with pin number or ring our helpline and do transaction over the phone,” said Ms Feehily, acknowledging that there was an eight-minute delay in answering calls.

“We are getting 8,000 calls a day. We make a commitment that if someone contacts us and we have to get back to them, we will regard them as being on time. That is as long as they make that contact by Monday as good faith has to be established.”

The Revenue chairman also warned business owners of the even greater importance to them of paying the tax or outstanding charge.

“The Local Property Tax is a small tax but if you don’t pay it you may not get a tax clearance certificate. Last year, we refused about 3,500 certificates.”