OVER €37 million in charges on second homes has been collected by local authorities under the scheme introduced in the 2009 budget with more expected to register before today’s deadline.
Almost 11,000 owners of non-principal private residences (NPPR) had their payments processed in a 24-hour period between Thursday and Friday totalling €2,162,600 in charges.
Payments of the €200 charge have been rising steadily since earlier this week. Between Monday and Tuesday 1,954 properties were registered, with an additional 6,385 registered by Wednesday morning and 7,545 paid up by Thursday. The total number of registered properties so far stands at 185,235.
According to County and City Managers’ Association chairman Ned Gleeson the surge in payments reflected a “terrific record of compliance”.
“We have worked very hard to ensure that anyone who is liable for the charge is facilitated in making the payment in as straightforward and convenient way as possible. The NPPR website, built by the Local Government Computer Services Board, has done a sterling job in handling thousands of registrations,” Mr Gleeson said.
“The money collected through this charge stays in the system and will be used locally to fund the delivery of services to communities. In these tough times for local authorities it is a much needed and welcome boost to our finances.”
While he acknowledged that the sum collected so far was encouraging, Mr Gleeson pointed out that there are still a number of people liable for the charge who have not yet come forward to pay it.
Under the self-declaration system the onus is on the individual home owner to comply with the charge. Mr Gleeson warned those who do not pay the charge will be liable to the full rigours of the law.
Payments can be made online until midnight tonight at www.nppr.ie. Postal applications sent before today’s deadline will not incur a late payment fee, which stands at €20 for every month or part of month that the charge remains unpaid. The €200 charge, which is being collected by local authorities, was introduced by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government under The Local Government Act 2009.
