Daft Property - Irish Property News

THE taxman will use GPS-style technology to help work out your property tax bill. Sophisticated aerial mapping will be used to measure a home's proximity to shops, transport links, schools and other amenities that have a bearing on a property's value. A 'deprivation index' will also be used to measure the affluence or poverty of an area, which will also have a bearing on the value and the amount of tax that should be paid. Homeowners will receive letters in the coming weeks telling them how much the Revenue thinks their home is worth and the tax band the property falls into. The revelations show the hi-tech lengths the Revenue is going to in order to clamp down on those who knowingly undervalue their home for the new charge. It is employing a sophisticated database which calculates a property's location in relation to facilities that increase its value. Aerial maps and GPS-style systems will measure "the distance from each property to a series of

Revenue failed to tax €2m staff benefit... BENEFIT-IN-KIND TAX: DELAYS BY the Revenue in identifying obligations to tax benefit-in-kind (Bik) of approximately €2 million paid to its own staff is highlighted in the report. In the course of drafting a Statement of Practice during 2006, officials raised concerns in relation to the tax treatment of benefits received by Revenue's own staff in respect of travel to and from work. A working group reviewed benefits which had accrued from January 2004 to June 2007. About €2 million accrued by way of Bik during the period reviewed. This comprised €1.7 million for use of official vehicles by officers for travel to and from work, and €0.3 million paid under agreements made with staff whose work began or ended between the hours of 11pm and 8am in locations not served by public transport. An overall liability was calculated at €1,656,920, including interest and penalties. The relevant Inspector of Taxes was informed of Revenue's intention to