25 April 2010 By Emma Kennedy
Local authorities took in €2.2 million in the first two weeks of collecting this year’s tax on second homes – almost four times the amount collected in the same period last year.
The liability date for the €200 non-principal private residence (NPPR) tax fell on March 31, six months earlier than the September 30 liability date last year. Property owners have until May 31 to pay the tax.
The tax on properties other than a person’s home was announced in the emergency budget of October 2008 and is administered by local authorities.
A total of €62.5 million was collected in respect of 308,000 properties last year.
Late payments for last year are still being accepted, with an additional charge of €2 0 a month after the due date.
A government spokesman said there was a better awareness of the new charge this year, with €2.2 million collected in the first 17 days after the liability date, compared with €561,000 in the same period last year.
As it is a self-assessment tax, property owners must contact the relevant local authority or pay online at www.nppr.ie.