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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 3 Nov 1943

Vol. 91 No. 11

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Postal Officials' Income-Tax.

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs whether, in view of the fact that Post Office officials who are paid weekly suffer severe hardships by having income-tax deducted in monthly instalments, which often exceed the amount of their wages, he will arrange to provide officers with the option of paying their income-tax in weekly instalments.

The question of deducting income-tax from weekly-paid officers in weekly instead of monthly instalments has been fully considered but, owing to the increase in accounting work which would be involved, the arrangement could not be agreed to in present circumstances.

In individual cases, where the amount of income-tax to be deducted forms a high proportion of an officer's wages, the amount is collected in weekly instalments and this concession is regarded as making reasonable provision against undue hardship.

No instance has come under notice in which an officer has had to contribute the whole of his weekly wage as income-tax deduction.

May I suggest that if the Minister makes further and more careful inquiries he will discover that persons have been required to supplement the amount they received in wages in order to pay the monthly income-tax deduction? I believe the Minister can get that information if he makes inquiries. Does he not realise that it is most unfair that a person should be asked to pay, in one week, either his whole week's wages, or even to supplement his wages in order to pay the income-tax? Will the Minister undertake, where the income-tax deduction amounts to 25 per cent. of the officer's wages, to institute a scheme of weekly deductions? In the railway service an officer paid weekly is permitted to pay his income-tax weekly. Why should there be any difficulty in the Post Office in doing the same thing?

It would involve a considerable increase in staff, and that could not be dune during the period of the emergency. If the Deputy has any specific case in mind, perhaps he will furnish particulars of it. My information is that in any case where there is real hardship, careful consideration is given. On account of overtime, perhaps, the income-tax in some cases mounts up to more than would be normally due at, the end of the month. Any case where there is real hardship will be dealt with.

Will the Minister give a general indication of what he would consider a case of real hardship? If a person is obliged to pay half his wages in a particular week in order to satisfy income-tax demands, is that not a real hardship? Will the Minister in such a case issue an instruction providing for a weekly deduction, something along the lines of what is done with railway employees?

The practice already in force can be used in any case. If the Deputy will draw our attention to any particular case, we can consider whether it would be wise to do as he suggests. Each case must be considered on its merits. No general rule can be laid down.

Any case so submitted to the Minister will be sympathetically considered?

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