No axing the taxing issues

HAVING stared it down through the kindly prism of the Household Charge in 2012, the Local Property Tax (LPT), we had so long dreaded is here.

We can weep, wail and feel aggrieved, but given that the Revenue Commissioner and his team now have powers to rake the money directly from our PAYE cheques, bank accounts, welfare and even farm payments — the fight is all but over.

As part of the mainstream taxation machine there is simply no avoiding the LPT for the vast number of Irish house owners and even for some long term tenants.