Parliamentary Question addressed to the Minister for Finance

To ask the Minister for Finance if the date on which the property tax for 2014 becomes payable is January 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Reply

Minister for Finance ( Michael Noonan):

Section 119 of the Finance (Local Property Tax) Act 2012 sets out the dates for payment of the Local Property Tax (LPT). The Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) Bill 2013 clarifies that while the LPT is due by reference to a liability date it is not payable until a later date. In relation to 2014, the tax is payable on 1 January 2014.

I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that a payable date of 1 January is necessary to enable phased payments by way of deduction at source from employment or occupational pension income or from certain payments from the Department of Social Protection and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to be spread evenly over the course of 2014. Payments made through service providers by way of cash, debit card or credit card can be paid in full or can run from 1 January 2014 to the end of 2014 on a weekly or monthly basis as it suits the residential property owner. Payments made by direct debit will commence on 15 January 2014 and will be deducted on the 15th day of each month thereafter. Payment of the full amount of LPT due by way of Single Debit Authority will be deducted from the nominated bank account on 21 March 2014.