Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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69. To ask the Minister for Finance his plans to eliminate the 1.49% additional transaction charge that a credit card holder is charged when using that method to pay the local property tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35044/14]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by Revenue that the 1.49% charge to which the Deputy refers covers the transaction costs it incurs from the credit card companies that provide the service.

The charge, which applies to all credit card tax payments including Local Property Tax (LPT), is a 'blended rate' based on the various credit card rates offered by the card providers under the terms of contracts awarded by the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) on behalf of the Public Sector. Revenue passes these costs to the customer under Section 960EA of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 as inserted by Section 79 of the Finance Act 2011.

Revenue has confirmed to me that while there are no plans to eliminate what is a commercial charge,  Revenue is currently reviewing the 1.49% rate in light of increased volumes and value of credit card tax payments, and will make its conclusions available in good time for the income tax and LPT filing season.