Anger and concern as Mayo home owners face 'vampire' tax hike
A Mayo TD has criticised the government’s latest proposal to increase Local Property Tax charges.
Deputy Paul Lawless is warning that the upcoming revaluation in November will mean every household paying more - "and all while families are already buckling under the weight of a cost-of-living crisis."
He stated: "The government yesterday introduced a bill that will widen the LPT valuation bands by 20% ahead of the revaluation date on November 1, 2025.
"Without any change to the LPT bands, approximately 70% of households would be pushed into a higher tax band.
"The changes will still see all homeowners paying more, with those in properties valued up to €525,000 paying between €5 and €25 extra, and those in homes worth up to €1.05 million facing an increase of up to €48.
“This bill seeks to ensure that households see a proportional and fair increase in their property tax, but the truth is that this tax is fundamentally unfair and unjust.
“It punishes ordinary working families, older people and rural homeowners simply for having a roof over their heads.”
Quoting former Taoiseach Enda Kenny, Deputy Lawless labelled the LPT “a vampire tax.”
“In the words of Enda Kenny himself – ‘This is a vampire tax. It drives a stake through the heart of home ownership and sucks the lifeblood of people who want to own their own home and better their position.’
“What do the people of Mayo actually get for this property tax?” asked Deputy Lawless.
“Families are already paying their fair share through income tax, VAT, USC, motor tax, tolls and fuel levies.
"The government is squeezing people from every direction and then sending a bill to the family home as if it were a luxury item.”
He also pointed to the rising cost of living, highlighting the gap between what families are earning and what they are being asked to pay.
“It’s easy for government TDs to dismiss this as a few euros a week, but people are already struggling. In 2022 you could buy a kilo of chicken breasts for €4.99.
Today it’s €11. That’s a 120% increase in three years. The value of a family’s home doesn’t reflect their ability to pay more tax.”
Deputy Lawless said Aontú believes in empowering local government but condemned the idea of funding councils through a regressive levy on homes.