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€200 PROPERTY TAX ON INVESTMENT PROPERTY AND HOLIDAY HOMES TO COME INTO FORCE
Yesterday Environment Minister John Gormley outlined the tax in the Local Government Charges Bill 2009, which will become law at the end of next month. Announced last October, it is expected to give local authorities up to €40m per year in additional funding. Owners of residential rental properties, holiday homes and vacant residential properties-apart from those newly constructed and unsold-will be liable to pay the charge.

Those who fail to pay face hefty fines of €20 per month-but the amount is rolled-up, meaning that the bills soar over time. For example, a person who fails to pay the tax for one year will owe €200 for the levy, plus €240 in fines giving a total of €440. Taxes and fines left unpaid will accumulate annually.
Last night the Department of the Environment said that the fines system was introduced as a deterrent for people who might try to avoid the charge.

Local authorities will be examining electricity bills to make sure owners of holiday homes pay the €200 ‘second home’ tax announced yesterday. New powers mean county councils will be given access to utility bills to see if power is turned off during the winter months-suggesting that the homes are only used as summer residences. And they will also be examining the voter register and land registry records to see how many people owe the tax.