Sir, – I wonder would it be okay with Phil Hogan if I paid my household charge with a cheque postdated to 2025? Michael Noonan at least would understand. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – The private properties of Government Ministers are liable for the household charge. This fact is at odds with a letter from Niall Mullally (March 22nd). The letter stated “It is possible that Mr Varadkar does not know the answer as he is, as a Minister, exempt from paying the household charge.”
In fact, the Local Government (Household Charge) Act, 2011 states in Section 2 (2) (b) in relation to what is not taken to mean a residential property for the purposes of the Act: (b) a building vested in a Minister of the Government, a housing authority (within the meaning of the Act of 1992) or the Health Service Executive; This does not include properties owned in a private capacity by a person who happens to be a minister.
Therefore, the private properties of ministers are liable for the household charge. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – In the past couple of weeks I have received a council tax bill for €1,432 and a water rates bill for €396. This is for a modest two-bedroom house in London. Said accommodation has a mortgage on which, unlike in Ireland, I receive no mortgage interest relief. While I know it is difficult having further austerity thrust upon the economy, there should be a realisation that, due to property bubble revenues, Irish taxpayers were comparatively under taxed as against other jurisdictions.
Property taxes are a painful reality for most progressive economies – and an inevitability. If people have concerns about property-related taxes and spending, perhaps their time would be better spent questioning the absurd amount of rent allowance on offer from the State in an effort to prop up bubble speculators. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – I have just issued a €100 personal bond for the household charge, which will not be payable until 2025. I am in the process of issuing similar bonds to Irish Life Permanent, VHI and various banks. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – I do not intend to pay the household charge, but I am willing to offer the Government a compromise. I agree to issue it with a promissory note with a nominal value of €100, payable sometime after my death. It should then bring this to the ECB which, I am sure, will be happy to borrow the same amount from the IMF.
With the IMF payment, the ECB should then buy some Irish Government bonds, and the Government can use the cash generated to pay a Irish Bank Resolution Corporation bondholder some of the money I apparently owe it, though have no recollection of borrowing. Simple, really. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – I agree with Brian Murphy (March 19th), who highlights the absurdity that the landlords of private rented houses have to pay the household charge rather than the tenants who live there.
The exemptions available to tenants and others are difficult to understand. Surely, if there is to be a form of council tax then every citizen should pay, as we all use local services and amenities? It is interesting that the Government plans to use the information on utility bills to catch households who refuse to pay the charge.
In respect of rented houses this will provide information on the tenants who live there.
It is logical enough to make a connection between the consumption of private services at an address and the use of local public services, so why is the Government making the non-resident owners liable for the charge, especially when these people are already liable for the higher NPPR charge, which also allegedly funds services that they receive no benefit from? – Yours, etc,