Revenue to be given powers to collect data on vacant homes

Homeowners will have to detail any empty houses they own when making their tax returns in November

The gathering of the new information on the true number of vacant properties, and their precise location, will help the government to decide if it is worth introducing a vacant home tax. Picture: iStock

Homeowners will be legally required to provide Revenue with details of vacant homes they own when they are making their property tax returns this November.

They are also likely to be asked how long the house or apartment has been vacant and the reason for the vacancy.

It will be the first time that the government will learn the precise location of every vacant home and is part of the preparations for a future vacant ...