What will the Local Property Tax changes mean for you?

On 2 June 2021, Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe confirmed the details of the Local Property Tax (LPT) changes. Once the changes go into effect on 1 November, the government estimates that just over a third (36 percent) of property owners will see an increase on their bill, just over half (53 percent) will see no change at all, and 11 percent will see their tax payments reduced.

First off, what is the Local Property Tax? The Local Property Tax was introduced in 2013, and it is an annual charge on all residential properties in the State. Basically, if you own a residential property, you will have to pay this tax. The charges are currently based on self-assessed valuations carried out in 2013. The amount you pay is based on the valuation of your property, and there are 20 different LPT bands, with the lowest two having fixed rate charges of €90 and €225. The problem with these valuations is that property prices have surged since 2013, while the valuations of property for LPT purposes have not changed since 1 May 2013. …

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Proving property tax exemptions

The Irish Revenue Commissioners, a government funded agency, is responsible for  a multitude of financially related activities; some of these include customs, excise, and overall taxation. In 2013, Revenue changed the way that Local Property Tax (LPT) was collected for all residential properties in Ireland. 

This tax is meant to hold the owners of residential or rental properties accountable for the payment of tax on all of their assets. Beyond just these two groups, people who have a lease of twenty years or greater, local authority/social housing organizations, or a person acting as a personal representative for a deceased owner are also responsible for paying the LPT. 

LPT can be charged on homes that are unoccupied or uninhabited, if it is a suitable place to be lived in. If it is not up to par with regular living standards, no LPTs will have to be paid on the property. There is a great deal of opinion that comes into play when deeming a property livable or not, which is why the  Irish Revenue Commissioners requires that some type of documentation …

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The Last Word with Matt Cooper – talking property tax

On the 7th we were asked to speak with Matt Cooper about the local property tax figures which showed that 25% of properties in Ireland are worth less (at least on a tax submissions basis) than €100,000.

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Property tax exemptions – 2013 Finance Bill ammendment

The list of exempted properties is in the new property tax amendment to the 2013 Finance Bill.  Charities, properties held in trust, and those occupied by incapacitated people (within the meaning of section 189A(1) of the Act of 1997).

Of interest is section 7 which covers social housing. While access to social housing at the time of admission is normally due to diminished means of housing affordability, the upkeep, location and cost to local authorities is much higher than it would be for an equivalent private house. And a person in a social house is not removed should they become wealthier (their rent does increase).

Defaulting everybody in social housing into the lowest band places the same tax burden on people who may be at very different points in their career (and earnings capacity), it also doesn’t distinguish allowing for different groups within the social housing spectrum – there is a large difference in affordability between a younger single mother and an older couple with grown …

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