What level of PRSI will apply to unearned income?
If possible, agree an hourly fee with your broker.
Owner must pay the property tax
Are people living in council houses and paying rent liable for property tax?
Ms CB, Longford
No. When he was announcing the measure in the Budget, the Minister for Finance pointed to background documents on the new charge. These state explicitly that local authority housing is not exempt from the charge unless it is provided to people with special housing needs, such as the elderly or people with disabilities.
However, liability rests with the owner of the property, in this case the local authority or social housing organisation, not with the people living in the property. Of course, there is nothing to prevent owners raising rents to cover the cost to offset this over time.
Will I only have to pay tax once?
As I rent out my house, up to now I have been liable for NPPR (even though I only own one house). Last year I had to pay NPPR as well as the household charge. I think in 2013, I will be paying NPPR and six months worth of property tax . . . but from 2014 on, will I only have to pay tax once on this house?
Ms SD, Dublin
Yes, from 2014, you will pay only the local property tax. As you say, the household charge has been phased out at the end of this year (although unpaid amounts will be added to your bill for the new property tax).
The tax itself is not coming into force until July 1st, so you will only pay half the annual amount in the coming year.
And, yes, you will still be liable for the non-principal private residence charge (NPPR) on the property for the whole of 2013. Thereafter, it will no longer be in force.
Is free travel and TV licence hit?
Will the free travel and free TV licence schemes be affected by the changes to the household benefits package for the over 70s or do the changes only apply to the telephone and electricity/gas allowances?
Mr TB, Wicklow
The changes apply only to the phone and electricity gas allowances. The former drops from €22.60 a month to €9.50 from January. The electricity/gas allowance falls to €35 from €39.40.
This column is a reader service and is not intended to replace professional advice. Please send your questions to QA, c/o Dominic Coyle, The Irish Times, 24-28 Tara Street, Dublin 2, or to dcoyle@irishtimes.com. No personal correspondence will be entered into.
