It is absolutely clear the government has no intention of taking ability to pay into account in a meaningful way in the changes being made to the property tax, according to Fianna Fáil Senator Brian Ó Domhnaill.
Senator Ó Domhnaill was speaking after the opening of the Seanad debate on the Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) Bill 2013.
Senator Ó Domhnaill stated, “The government is still insisting that a single person earning anything more than €288 gross per week or a family with anything more than €480 gross per week is not even entitled to defer the property tax liability. The government seems to have no concern whatsoever for the thousands of people who are struggling to make ends meet as it is and who simply have no means to pay this property tax.
“I had hoped that the government would address the ability to pay issue in a meaningful way in this amendment bill. Instead the fundamental unfairness of the property tax has been reinforced and no tangible effort has been made to deal with the situation of people on low incomes, those living with mortgage arrears and negative equity, and those who paid large amounts of stamp duty and development levies in recent years. This tax will now disproportionately hit those on low and middle incomes and those experiencing difficulties with their mortgage.
“The original Property Tax bill was rammed through the Dáil & Seanad before Christmas. The same will be done with this amendment bill this evening. This is being done to allow the Revenue to issue letters to 1.9 million households starting on 11th March, many of whom can ill afford to pay this unfair and penal tax on the family home.”
Also in the Seanad, Senator Jimmy Harte launched a scathing attack on Sinn Fein, pointing out that a property tax operates in the North.
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