Auctioneerssay housetaxnoton

February 1983

BRAY and North Wicklow would be one of the worst hit areas in the country should the proposed tax on properties in excess in excess of £65,000 value becomes part of next Wednesday’s budget. Situated as it is on the south of Dublin, the area is very much commuter country and there are a large number of properties here which would qualify for the tax.

But according to local auctioneers, the scheme would be unworkable and unlikely to bring in extra revenue for the government because of administrative costs. The property tax has stirred considerable controversy since the possibility of it introduction was raised shortly after the coalition government came to power. The terms which it is thought would be applied are for a tax of 1.5 per cent on every £1,000 in excess of a £65,000 for property owners earning more than £20,000 per annum.

In Bray, the introduction of the tax would be considerably complicated by the large number of properties valued in around the £65,000 mark after which the tax begins.