Owners Face Fines

The deadline for paying the holiday home tax on second homes has passed and owners could be fined.

Only 83,000 people out of 200,000 owners had paid the €200 fee before the September 30, 2010 deadline. Holiday home owners only have one more month's grace to pay the property tax before they are hit with fines added to their bill.

People who don't make the payment by October 31 next will have €20 added to their outstanding bill every month. The Private Residential Tenancies Board and ESB have been given the power to share information with local authorities enabling them to identify homes liable for the tax. Documents such as electricity bills will be examined to see if power is switched off during winter months, indicating the home is used as a summer residence. The electoral register and land registry records will also be checked to help determine how many people owe the tax.

If home owners do not pay the tax they could face prosecution and be fined €2,000.

Unpaid fees and fines are registered as a charge against the property for up to 12 years. It is up to individuals who intend to purchase a property to make sure the fees have been paid or they become liable for the unpaid charges and fines.

The fees can be paid online at www.nppr.ie with a credit or debit card or paid direct to the local authority.