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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 4 May 1971

Vol. 253 No. 7

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Income Tax Payers.

11.

asked the Minister for Finance the number of income tax payers in the country.

The number of income tax payers for 1970-71, the latest year for which statistics are available, is provisionally estimated at 657,000, which includes a figure of 7,000 in respect of companies.

Is that reply not contrary to the information given by the Minister during the Budget debate when the indication was that the number of income tax payers was about 600,000 and that the number of persons who might be entitled to complete relief was about 20,000?

He said there were about 550,000 income tax payers.

My recollection is that he said about 600,000 and relief for about 20,000.

The figure to which Deputy O'Donovan is referring was given off the cuff during an intervention. I said at the time that it was not more than a guess on my part. Offhand, I do not recall the figure quoted by Deputy Donegan as having been given by me, but I think he may be referring to a figure I gave as an estimate for the current year. The figure I have just quoted is for the last year for which a figure is available, 1970-71.

Could the Minister make another guess for us and give us any information as to what the likely number will be in 1971-72 in spite of this so called reduction of 20,000?

No, it would not be possible to do that at this stage.

Would it be true to say that the figure will be more than 700,000?

I could not estimate that at this stage in the early part of the financial year. The Deputy will appreciate that various claims are made for allowances and so on and that, therefore, it would not be possible at present to give even a rough estimate.

I have more faith in the Revenue Commissioners than the Minister has.

Question No. 12.

I gave way to Deputy O'Donovan because his contributions are always so invaluable. I should like to know if the Minister for Finance is allowed make guesses during the production of his Budget speech and the subsequent debate thereon? I would have thought he was not so allowed.

The Deputy is mistaken.

The Deputy must be correct but the House is wrong and so is the Minister.

The Deputy is mistaken in what he is trying to imply.

I am only quoting what the Minister said.

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