asked the Minister for Finance if, in view of the steady rise in the cost of living, he will have the age allowance for income tax doubled, particularly for pensioners.
Written Answers. - Income Tax.
32.
Alterations in the income tax personal allowances and reliefs are primarily budgetary matters and the Deputy will appreciate that I cannot indicate in advance what the budget may or may not contain.
313.
asked the Minister for Finance the estimated amount of income tax payable weekly by a married couple having no income other than £24.00, consisting of the maximum non-contributory pension of £18.60 for two persons and a weekly allowance of £5.40 from another source not being wages, on the assumption that there is no offset in respect of mortgage interest or life assurance or any other offset; and the net weekly income after deduction of income tax.
314.
asked the Minister for Finance the estimated amount of income tax payable weekly by a married couple having no other income than £24.00, consisting of a social welfare contributory pension of £19.36 and a supplementary contributory pension from a previous employer of £4.65, on the assumption that there is no offset in respect of mortgage interest or life insurance or any other offset; and the net weekly income after deduction of income tax.
The tax liability is the same in each case, that is, £47.58 for the year. The net weekly income after deduction of income tax is £23.09. It has come to notice, however, that in many cases where the wife was entitled to a separate non-contributory pension the "working wife's allowance" of £230 was, in error, given in the computation of personal reliefs. This allowance is not legally due and will not be granted in these cases in the future.