Property tax filed by 100,000 in past week

Some 100,000 local property tax returns have been filed in the past week, ahead of tomorrow’s paper deadline.

Returns have been filed for some 300,000 properties, Revenue said today. This is up from the figure of 205,000 it provided last week.

It brings the compliance rate figure up to 40 per cent of 1.95m properties when combined with the the 486,000 payments rolled over from 2013 (because they were direct debit, deduction at source or had exemptions).

Last week Revenue extended its deadline for paper forms by seven days due to the volume of queries it received. Returns postmarked on the closing date (tomorrow) “will be regarded as being on time,” Revenue said.

Confusion had arisen about the methods of payment after Revenue issued letters offering seven different options, some with different payment deadlines.

There has been widespread public criticism that taxpayers paying by plastic card have had to pay the 2013 tax and the 2014 tax within one year.

Further controversy surrounded the tax at the weekend when Revenue said thousands of homeowners are expected to receive refunds on their local property tax due to an unclear clause in legislation.

The online deadline has not changed and those making online returns have two weeks until the deadline on November 27th at Revenue.ie.

Anyone with queries or in need of assistance is asked to contact t the LPT helpline on 1890 200 255. It is open from 8am until 8pm today and tomorrow .