653BF Surcharge for late filing of vacant homes tax return

Summary

This section provides for a surcharge to be applied here a vacant homes tax return is filed late.

Details

(1) For the purposes of this section, a chargeable person will be deemed to have failed to have delivered their return on time:

• where they deliberately or carelessly deliver an incorrect return on or before the return date, unless the error in the return is rectified before the return date,
• where they, neither deliberately nor carelessly, deliver an incorrect return on or before the return date but where it comes to their attention that the return is incorrect and they do not rectify the return without unreasonable delay,
• where they deliver a return on time, but Revenue is dissatisfied with any of the information contained in the return. In this case Revenue can request, by written notice, that the chargeable person deliver a return or evidence, or further return or evidence. That person will be deemed to have failed to have delivered their return on time unless the requested return or evidence is delivered within the time frame specified in any notice.

(2) A surcharge arises where a chargeable person fails to deliver a vacant homes tax return on or before the return date. The surcharge increases the amount of vacant homes tax which would have been payable had a correct return been delivered by an amount equal to:

• 5 per cent of that amount of tax, where the return is delivered before the expiry of 2 months from the return date, and
• 10 per cent of that amount of tax, where the return is not delivered before the expiry of 2 months from the return date.

Relevant Date: Finance Act 2024