The household charge. It’s the tax that simply won’t go away. Well, not yet anyway.
The charge, which initially was introduced in January 2012 and had to be paid by the end of March that year, is still a topical issue well over a year later.
From July 1st the charge will be completely replaced by the new property tax but with 21% of people still yet to pay, it is unlikely to disappear without creating a few headlines first.
Any of the estimated near 350,000 households who have yet to pay the charge who fail to do so by the end of this month (June 30th) will be hit with a €200 bill from July 1st.
The charge is €145 before then and anyone who has yet to pay it is being encouraged to do so before the duty of collecting the fee is handed over to the Revenue Commissioners.
What is most worrying for people, is that even those who have paid could be facing the €200 bill.
That’s because anyone who paid late but who failed to meet interest payments of as little as €11 would be deemed not to have met the payment.
That could mean that their total household charge bill could amount to €300 – the €100 already paid plus the €200 interest.
The Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) said that it had written to homeowners, warning them that the penalty payments had to be discharged.
"There are people who paid €100 charge in April last year but ignored the penalties of €11," a spokeswoman said.
"They still owe €11. Whatever outstanding charge you have related to the household charge becomes a liability of €200 payable to Revenue.
"If people signed up to pay by direct debit, with four payments of €25, but cancelled their direct debit before their fourth payment, they will be hit with €200. We did contact any one who owed interest or penalties, warning them it was due."
If all 347,068 households who have yet to pay are fined €200 for non-payment then it would generate revenue of €69m for the government.
The charge can be paid online at www.householdcharge.ie
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