£16k in rates arrears colected in Mid Ulster

The National Fraud Initiative Report, produced by the Northern Ireland Audit Offices’ Comptroller and Auditor General, Kieran Donnelly CB covers the period April 1, 2018 to March 31, 2020.

The report detected 135 cases of rates avoidance across Northern Ireland by comparing Land and Property Service’s rate records with household information on the electoral register.

Thanks to this report, three properties have been detected in Mid Ulster that were not on the LPS rating system and a total of £16,746.47 has been collected from these properties for rates due prior to April 2020.

The report was discussed at a meeting of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council’s performance and audit committee where it was explained that councils across Northern Ireland had been made aware of the situation.

It is unclear if the information was discussed at a meeting of Mid Ulster District Council’s audit committee which meets behind closed doors.

When asked how many properties had been discovered by this report and the total value of money collected, a spokesperson for Mid Ulster District Council said it was a question for Land and Property Service.

A spokesperson for Land and Property Service confirmed three properties within Mid Ulster had been matched by the electoral register that were not on the rating system.

It was also confirmed that rates arrears on these properties have now been collected in full by LPS.

“The National Fraud Initiative report published on June 11, 2020 reported that 135 cases of rates avoidance had been detected by matching to the electoral register,” said an LPS spokesperson.

“LPS records indicate that there were three properties that were matched by the electoral register but were not on the rating system at that time in the Mid Ulster district.

“A total of £16,746.47 arrears for all three properties (rates due prior to April 2020) has now been collected in full by LPS.”