Councils to get extra muscle to tackle commercial rates

Councils are to be given Revenue-style powers to impose daily penalties on the business 'freeloaders' who are not paying their commercial rates.

As part of stronger enforcement powers, there will be a daily interest rate applied on unpaid commercial rates bills, which is the same rate the Revenue imposes on unpaid tax bills.

It could amount to tens of thousands of euro in penalties for businesses who currently owe a total of €272 ...