Written answers

Wednesday, 8 July 2015

Department of Finance

Property Tax Assessments

Photo of Billy KelleherBilly Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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68. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will enquire of the Revenue Commissioners if they have made a decision regarding the a repayment request by a person (details supplied) in County Cork, further to an overpayment by that person of local property tax, which overpayment was based on an incorrect valuation of the person's house by the Revenue Commissioners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27849/15]

Photo of Michael NoonanMichael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that Local Property Tax (LPT) is a self-assessed tax and it is a matter for each property owner to calculate the liability based on his/her assessment of the market value of the property on the relevant 'valuation date'.

The first LPT 'valuation date' was 1 May 2013 and any property valuation declared on that date is valid until 31 October 2016. The valuation is not affected by any repairs/improvements made to a property or by any general increase/decrease in property prices that occur over the course of the valuation period.

In regard to the specific case to which the Deputy is referring, the person in question filed the statutory Return for the 2013 to 2016 period and self-assessed valuation Band 4, which was equal to the Revenue estimate that issued to her. The Revenue estimate is not based on a valuation of the property and only comes into play where the property owner fails to file the statutory Return. Once the property owner files the statutory Return and assesses a particular valuation band, as happened in this case, then the estimate ceases to have any effect.

The person recently submitted an amended Return indicating a Band 1 valuation instead of the previously declared Band 4 valuation. The LPT team subsequently made direct contact with the person to discuss the issue and to establish the reason for seeking such a reduction. The LPT team member also explained to her that because she had previously self-assessed at Band 4 level she would need to provide supporting evidence confirming Band 1 as the more appropriate valuation.

The person committed to providing the necessary information as quickly as possible and the Commissioners have assured me that as soon as it is made available the LPT team will review the case as a priority.

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