![]() LOCAL PROPERTY TAX COMPLIANCE RATES 2013 TO 2015 A recent statement by the Revenue Commissioners has indicated that Local Property Tax compliance rates were 97% during the 2013 and 2014, although this had dropped to 96% (to date) for the 2015 payment period. As and from 2013, when the Local Property Tax was introduced, the Revenue has sent out 600,000 letters advising property owners of their liability to the Local Property Tax. Obviously contributing to the high compliance rates noted above, in excess of 140,000 property owners have had Local Property Tax payments taken directly from their salaries or pensions. Out of the approximately 1.95 million residential Irish properties currently registered for Local Property Tax, the Revenue are still unable to establish definitive ownership for 47,000 of these properties. | ![]() |
Over 1,000 cases have been refered to the relevent sheriff for collection across Ireland although, to date, no Local Property Tax cases have ended up in court. Around 19,000 cases have involved surcharges on top of the original Local Property Tax due on the properties concerned. To date, the Local Property Tax has brought in over 1 billion euros since its inception, 45 million euros of this coming fron the previous Household Charge scheme. The exemption period for Local Property Tax for new or previously unused properties bought from a developer runs out in December 2016. Properties purchased between 1 January 2013 and 31 December 2013 are exempt until December 31st 2016, as long as the purchaser occupies the property as their sole or main residence. Although it was originally intended that this exemption would only apply to first-time buyers, it was extended to any buyer that purchased a second-hand property in 2013, as long as they lived in it as their sole or main residence. If the property is subsequently sold or is not the buyer's main residence between the period 2013 and 2016, the exemption for Local Property Tax will no longer be available. This summary is based on a recent Irish Times newspaper article and Revenue guidelines and is subject to errors and omissions. ![]() |