Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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59. To ask the Minister for Finance the options open to persons for payment of the local property tax which do not involve any transaction fees or charges; and if a person can pay the tax in cash at their local revenue office. [18800/14]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by Revenue that no transaction fees or charges are incurred where liable persons opt to pay their Local Property Tax (LPT) or arrears of Household Charge (HHC) through Deduction at Source from employment, occupational pension or certain payments from the Departments of Social Protection and Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

In regard to the other payment options that are available for the payment of LPT / HHC including cheque, debit card, credit card, direct debit and Single Debit Authority (SDA), I am advised that, while Revenue does not apply any transaction fees or charges, it has no discretion in relation to the charges or fees that the various financial institutions decide to apply to a transaction.

Neither does Revenue have any discretion in regard to the charges that the three approved Service Providers apply to LPT/HHC transactions. For the Deputy's information, An Post currently charges €1 per transaction, Omnivend charges 4% per transaction, and Payzone charges 75 cents per transaction up to €50, €1 per transaction for payments between €50.01 and €100 and €2 per transaction for payments over €100.

In regard to the Deputy's query as to whether local Revenue offices will accept cash payments of LPT/HHC, I am advised that Revenue offices do not accept cash payments in respect of any tax, including LPT and HHC, on foot of security concerns, and there are no plans to change this policy.

Finally, I am satisfied that the range of payment options put in place by Revenue to assist people in meeting their LPT/HHC obligations provide a great amount of flexibility to suit individual circumstances and I commend the Commissioners in this regard.