asked the Minister for Finance the amount of VAT and income tax collected by the State in respect of the erection of an £8,000 house.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - House Taxation.
34.
The value-added tax collected in the erection of an £8,000 house is £236.
Income tax is a tax chargeable on a person in respect of income or profits. The amount payable in any one case depends on the particular circumstances applying in the conduct of the business and in relation to allowances and deductions and it is not possible, therefore, to state what element of income tax may be contained in any one transaction.
Can the Minister say what the difference would be between the amount of VAT collected and the amount of State grant given for an £8,000 house?
I have not got that information before me but my own view of the matter is that the State grant exceeds the amount of VAT collected.
By what percentage approximately?
Leaving percentages aside for one moment it seems to me that it could vary from £50 to £100.
Would the Minister agree that £50 would be more correct than £100? In fact, the value of the new house grant is £50.
It varies greatly.
For this £8,000 house?
Even for that type of house it would depend on a number of things including the income of the person.
The Minister is aware that the income of the person is not taken into consideration for the State grant?
Not for the State grant but for supplementary grants.
Did the Minister say that the figure is £238?
£236.
I will show the Minister some figures which will prove that that is not correct. The amount being charged is quite substantially more.
The appropriate rate of tax would be 2.95 but I will be only too happy to consider any figures submitted by the Deputy.
Has the Minister taken into account the VAT charged on all the materials?
Yes.
Including 19 per cent on some materials?
Taking one thing with another the average figure of VAT on a new house is less than 3 per cent.
Question No. 35.
Would the Minister make available to the House an itemised breakdown of how the VAT has been collected?
I will be only too happy, on receipt of an appropriate question, to furnish that information.
Would the Minister not accept my request now as an appropriate request?
I do not think I would be in a position to breach the rules of order.
The Minister breaks them more often than many.
I have never been found in breach of the rules of this House.
A question can be arranged very simply.