Property tax rises delayed until 2021; Government accused of stunt ahead of elections

Property tax increases will be delayed until 2021 and will be “modest” after a decision by the government to defer decisions on the levy. The Government’s preference is that there be no increases for four in five owners if property tax bands are widened for a majority of homeowners.

However, the decision to put off reforms to the tax, with local and European elections looming, has been deemed an election stunt by opposition parties. Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe was forced to defend deferring changes, releasing a report which outlined several scenarios if rates or bands are changed and how that impacts on the yield.