New tax to replace household charge

Reports have emerged that the new property tax to be introduced in place of the current household charge will hit the country’s city dwellers hardest. It will be based on the market value of homes which means that properties in Dublin and other large urban centres can expect to pay significantly more than, for example, large country houses in rural areas.

The news comes in the wake of the first household charge warning letters being sent out to hundreds of thousands of homeowners who have yet to register for the €100 household charge.

Sources have said that the new tax is expected to be self assessed which means that owners could be liable for auditing by the Revenue Commissioners.

A spokesperson for the Household Charge Project Board said the first communiqué issued was to draw people’s attention to the fact that they are not registered on the database. It also reminds recipients of the legislation requiring payment and that they will incur further late payment charges if they do not register and pay.

The new property tax, which has been described by the government as ‘fair’, is based on market value and could mean that small terraced houses in the capital would incur a much higher charge than larger properties in less densely populated areas of Ireland.

It gives a new meaning to the word ‘Fair’!

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