Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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77. To ask the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to an issue that is affecting some first-time buyers who have already placed deposits in full on new build homes which are not yet completed but still qualify for the help-to-buy scheme retrospectively, whereby the developer delays passing on the relevant information to the Revenue Commissioners to have part of the deposit released back to the first-time buyer; if his attention has been further drawn to the distress such delays are causing such first-time buyers who require the portion of the deposit to be returned to cover the cost of other aspects of the house buying process; the measures he proposes to introduce to ensure developers undertake the necessary actions to ensure first-time buyers receive their refund in a timely and prompt manner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2404/17]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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Retrospective claimants for the Help to Buy incentive are taxpayers who have either contracted to purchase, or have drawn down the first tranche of their qualifying loan to self-build their home, in the period between 19 July 2016 and 31 December 2016, inclusive.

I am advised by Revenue that the online claim process for retrospective claimants differs from that for current claimants. It does not require the developer or contractor to pass on information to Revenue, and instead retrospective claimants are required to submit supporting documentation including a signed copy of the contract, evidence of their mortgage or mortgage drawdown, and details of the property, directly to Revenue.  

All claimants for the Help to Buy incentive are advised to provide the necessary information to Revenue via MyEnquiries, which is an online service that allows customers to securely send correspondence to Revenue.  MyEnquiries can be accessed from the Revenue website either through myAccount or through ROS (Revenue's Online Service), depending on whether the claimant is a PAYE taxpayer or a self-employed taxpayer.

I am advised by Revenue that once the information is received from retrospective claimants, all appropriate refunds are being processed without delay. In addition, the legislation allows for Revenue to pay the Help to Buy refund directly to the claimant's bank account.