Over the last number of weeks Revenue has mailed over 1.5 million letters to householders informing them that the Finance Act 2012 (as amended) requires householders to value their property/properties at Novemebr 1, 2025. These valuations will determine the amount of LPT (Local Property Tax)one pays for 2026 and for the four years 2027 to 2030.
In recent days a spokeswoman for Revenue was interviewed on RTÉ’s Today with Claire Byrne. The woman spoke at breakneck speed, which made it difficult to know exactly what she was saying. She rattled off a helpline telephone number. There was a glibness in her tone, which did not prove helpful.
The letter gives a website address. In anyone's language is it as clear as the Revenue spokeswoman made it out to be? No.
Giving people less than a month to complete the required forms gives another sense of glibness.
The letter has three headings: Determine, Submit, Pay.
This sentence on the website: 'Please be advised that the filing of LPT returns and/or payments may take some time to process.’
It takes so much time, one is left with no choice but to log out.
The letter is signed by Joseph Howley, Collector -General.
Everything about the letter, everything about the spokeswoman, who was on radio, smells of arrogance and almost disdain.
And no telephone number on the letter, which simply says they couldn’t be bothered taking to us.
Nothing about this campaign is impressive, indeed, they would do themselves no harm if they did a course on good manners and how not to talk down to people.
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