Almost 300,000 households face €200 hit for not paying Household Charge

Anyone who has not paid the Household Charge by the end of this month will be hit with a €200 bill from July 1.

The charge is €145 before then and anyone who has yet to pay it is being reminded to do so, before the duty of collecting the fee is handed over to the Revenue Commissioners.

It is estimated around 280,000 households have not paid, with payment levels at 80%.

Jackie Maguire is the chair of the Household Charge Project Board`, said: "The Household Charge which was established for 2012, and it remains for 2012, presently the charge is for €145 and must be paid before theend of June.

"After that, that charge ceases to be and it transfers to Property Tax of €200 to be paid to the Revenu Commissioners."