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Call Phil’s Bluff, Don’t Pay the Home Tax!

25/07/12

Last Wednesday [July 18] hundreds of people took part in a march on Leinster House to show their opposition to the Dublin government’s Home Tax. The organisers of the march, the Campaign against the Household and Water Taxes, have remained active throughout the Twenty-Six Counties in organising local communities and their boycott of the Home Tax.

The success of their campaign is shown by the fact that some 750,000 homes (52 percent of all eligible households) have not paid the tax. This is despite the recent letters sent out by local government minister Phil Hogan, threatening non-compliant households with fines.

éirígí has been to the forefront in organising the Campaign against the Household and Water Taxes in Dublin and a number of other counties in Munster, Connaught, the midlands and along the east coast. It is clear from working on the ground that people boycotting the tax have no intention of buckling under Phil Hogan’s threats.

The feeling among communities remains positive and resolute. One of the reasons for this is that it is patent to most people that Phil Hogan’s letter to boycotting houses is simply a bluff. The state cannot issue fines for non-payment without bringing each and every non-paying homeowner to court. Despite all their bluster, it is certain that the government is not going bring 750,000 people to court.

People are also well aware that this year’s €100 household charge will quickly rocket to an estimated average of €1,000-€1,400 full property tax and water tax by 2014. The reality is that for the vast majority of Irish families this type of money is simply not available.

It seems clear that the majority of ordinary people are not for backing down on this issue.

éirígí commends the 750,000 homeowners who refuse to be intimidated by the government’s threats and remain steadfast in their boycott of this unjust tax. We encourage people to become involved in their local campaign group against the Home Tax and help show up Phil Hogan’s bluff. The Home Tax will have to be dropped.