Property tax protest forces closure of Revenue office

Revenue closed its busiest office in Dublin today after it was occupied by protesters picketing against the property tax.

About 20 members of the Campaign Against Home and Water Taxes (CAHWT) protested outside the O’Connell Street office at around 12pm, while some chained themselves to furniture and radiators inside the building.

Protesters said the event was “part of a promised escalation of actions” against the property tax, which they claim is “an attack on the family home”.

A Garda spokesman said the protest ended peacefully, with no injuries and no arrests made.

The O’Connell Street branch is the busiest Revenue office in the country, dealing with over 1,000 callers per day.

Revenue apologised for the inconvenience caused to customers as a result of today’s protest.

Homeowners have until next Tuesday to register for payment of the property tax online. The deadline for receipt of payments by post was May 7th.

Bernie Hughes of the Finglas CAHWT described said the tax as "just another attempt to make the ordinary citizen pay for the mistakes of the bankers and developers".

“Shame on the Government for continuing to squeeze every last cent out of workers, pensioners and those on social welfare. It is time for people to stand up and say ‘enough is enough’ and to refuse to register or pay,” she said.