ONE OF the leading groups campaigning against home taxes has admitted it has lost its boycott campaign.
Can’t Pay Won’t Pay has said that it recognises that the boycott of the Property Tax has failed to attract sufficient numbers to remain viable.
It says the campaign will now switch to one calling for the Property Tax to be abolished. This is the same position espoused by Sinn Fein.
“We believe that a strong boycott of the Property Tax could have made it uncollectible, but unfortunately we were unable to convince home owners that it was possible. The powers given to the Revenue and the relentless media campaign demoralised many into thinking there was no point.” said CPWP spokesperson Michéal Cholm Mac Giolla Easbuig.
“Our Steering Committee has met and decided that, while individually we will all continue to resist registration, we have to accept that too many have registered to make the boycott still viable. We will stand in solidarity with those who simply will not be able to afford to pay this unfair tax, bearing in mind that as many as a fifth of those who have registered have chosen to kick the can down the road by sticking it on their credit cards.
“While we welcome support from others who will refuse to register before July 1st deadline, we must now state clearly that we see no prospect of winning the campaign at this stage through continuation of the boycott.
“Those of us who will continue to hold out fully understand those who felt they had no choice but to register. Many who support our stance have contacted us to tell us that they have only very reluctantly paid up and are angry and frustrated. They feel betrayed by the political parties who either supported the Property Tax or failed to back the people who took a principled stand against it.
“The Property Tax remains a hugely unpopular and controversial tax. People have only registered because of the threat of deduction at source and fear of falling foul of the Revenue and not because they support this tax. Public anger will only grow as people are asked to pay double the amount in only six months time and as the tax rises year on year. We will continue to campaign for the abolition of this hated tax.”
“The Property Tax is only one strand of our campaign against austerity taxes. We will soon be faced with water charges. Can’t Pay Won’t Pay will be organising a boycott of water charges and will obstruct the installation of water meters where possible. We will also continue to support Septic Tank owners who will face inspections and the prospect of punitive costs for any modifications recommended by inspectors.”
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