2-year wait for full benefit of water charge tax relief

Families may have to wait until the end of 2016 before getting the full benefit of a 20% tax relief on water charges, which was announced in the Budget.

The relief on water bills — which will start arriving at homes in the new year — is “unlikely to be provided at source” Finance Minister Michael Noonan said, in response to Dáil questions.

He said details of how this would work were still being finalised, but the relief — worth up to €100 for a family paying a €500 annual water bill — could be claimed the following year.