Household Charge

The Household Charge is an annual charge introduced by the Local Government (Household Charge) Act 2011 / Local Government (Household charge) Regulations 2012 which is payable by owners of residential property. It is a matter for owners of residential property to register and pay the Household Charge.

Registration and Payment Options:

1. Pay on-line - The best and most efficient way to pay your Household Charge is on-line. A dedicated Household Charge website has been set up to facilitate on-line registration and payment. The site also contains a Frequently Asked Questions guide to the charge.

2. Pay by Post – Registration and payment can also be made by post. Registration forms are available in all County Council Offices, Town Council Offices, Libraries, Post Offices, and Citizens' Information Centres. Registration forms can also be downloaded from the Household Charge or  Cork County Council Websites. Completed forms together with payment should be posted to;

Household Charge
PO Box 12168
Dublin 1

3. You can also drop in your completed form and payment to: Cork County Hall, the Council's Divisional Offices in Mallow, Clonakilty and Skibbereen and the Town Council offices in Clonakilty, Cobh, Fermoy, Kinsale, Macroom, Mallow, Midleton, Skibbereen and Youghal for transmission to the Household Charge Bureau.

NB Registration forms are also available at these Locations for completion.

If you have any queries in relation to the charge the Household Charge customer service department can be contacted on 1890-357357 or by post at the above address.

Late Payment Fees and Late Payment Interest

The final date to sign up for payment by direct debit installments was 29th February, 2012. Therefore a pay by installment option is no longer available. 

The €100 Charge had to be paid in full by 31st March 2012 in order to avoid late payment fees and late payment interest.

If the charge was not paid by this date (or an installment is not paid by its due date) a late payment fee equating to 10% of the amount outstanding will be added for payments less than six months late. This fee increases to 20% after 6 months and 30% after a year. On top of that late payment interest will also apply on the amount outstanding in respect of unpaid Household Charge. This is calculated at the rate of one per cent per month or part of a month from the due date, until payment of the Household Charge has been made.

NB: both the €100 charge and any accumulated late payment fee will be remain a charge against the property concerned and will continue to be such for twelve years after the charge or late payment penalties concerned became due. Any Household Charges or late payment penalties due on a residential property will have to be discharged, in full, before a transfer or sale of the property can be completed.

For further information see www.householdcharge.ie