A NORTHSIDE teenager has vowed not to
“snitch
? on her parents after being mistakenly sent a letter informing her that she was liable for the property tax on her family home.
Emma Timmins (19), from Balbriggan, described how she felt a mixture of shock and amusement when she received Revenue’s letter.
“In one sense I couldn’t believe such an error could be made but in another way I figured that the whole system seems to be so badly run and organised that it didn’t surprise me too much,
? she told Northside People.
“I’m not just annoyed but angry. Those letters are intimidating for anyone who gets them, especially children or teenagers like me.
“I’m 19-years-old. I don’t have anything. I’m working part-time in a pub. I certainly don’t own a house.
?
Emma was one of many people who received letters in error from the Revenue Commissioners in relation to the payment of the property tax.
While the letters ask those who receive letters in error to contact Revenue, it leads to an awkward situation for some, such as Ms Timmins.
“I’m going to call Revenue to tell them I don’t own the house but I’m definitely not going to snitch and give my parents’ names as being liable for the tax,
? she added.
“I’d feel like I was betraying them especially as they don’t agree with the tax either.
?
The Campaign Against Household and Water Taxes (CAHWT) criticised the Government for the errors, which it argued wrongly put the onus on young people to inform Revenue that their parents were the property owners.
Revenue chairperson Josephine Feehily had conceded that there would be some letters sent in error relating to the property tax.
“I need to tell you upfront that because there was no existing complete property register, there will be some errors in our records and a very small minority of individuals will receive a letter in error,
? she stated.
“This could occur, for example, where a son or daughter paid the household charge on behalf of a parent and the household charge system connected the property to the payer rather than the owner.
“It will happen where a property owner has died and the property transfer to the new owner has not been finalised, or where a landlord of a rented property has not registered with the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB).
“If a person gets a letter and they are not the owner, they should contact Revenue immediately to tell us who the owner is so that we can correct the register.
“If they don’t, we will continue to connect them to that property. The letters we are issuing emphasise this also.
“If you don’t submit a return, or contact Revenue to say why you are not the liable person, then Revenue will collect the Revenue Estimate from you.
?
As the property tax is a self-assessment tax, those who do not receive letters have the same obligation as those who do in terms of filing the return form and paying the liability.