Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 39:

In page 114, between lines 29 and 30, to insert the following: “(3) Section 653AN of the Principal Act is amended, in subsection (1), by the insertion of

the following definition:

“ ‘chartered engineer’ means a chartered engineer included on the register referred to in section 7 of The Institution of Civil Engineers of Ireland (Charter Amendment) Act 1969;”.

(4) Section 653BC of the Principal Act is amended, in paragraph (f)(i), by the insertion of “or chartered engineer” after “registered professional”.”.

This amendment relates to Part 22B of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997, which was introduced in Finance Act last year to provide for the vacant homes tax. This is a self-assessed tax that applies to habitable residential properties which are already liable for Local Property Tax, LPT. A property may come into the scope of the vacant homes tax if it has been occupied for less than 30 days in a 12-month chargeable period. The first chargeable period for the vacant homes tax was from 1 November 2022 to 31 October 2023. Accordingly, the first self-assessed returns were due on 7 November this year and the tax will be payable on 1 January 2024.

This amendment amends sections 653AN and 653BC of the principal Act. Section 653AN is the interpretation section for the vacant homes tax.

The amendment inserts a new definition of "chartered engineer" into the section. Section 653BC(f)(i)provides for an exemption from the vacant homes tax where a relevant property undergoes structural works, substantial repairs or substantial refurbishment in the chargeable period. The amendment will allow a chartered engineer to make the required certification for the purposes of claiming the exemption.