FF claims Government to stop NPPR charge amnesty

Fianna Fáil has claimed the Government is considering legislation which will mean those facing a penalty for non-payment of the Non-Principal Private Residence charge will not get an amnesty after 12 years as expected.

People who have still never paid the charge, dubbed the ‘second-home tax’, now owe more than €7,000. It was introduced in 2009 and applied until 2013. In a bid to encourage more people to pay the money they owed, the Government set a deadline of August 31. At that point those who had not paid owed €4,220. After August 31, though, the penalty was increased by €120 for every year missed and the total was increased by 50%. That meant that from August 31 on people owed €7,230.

However, the liability on the property by local authorities, which prevents the owner selling it until the charge is paid, only remains in place for 12 years.