Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 25 Jul 1996

Vol. 468 No. 4

Written Answers. - Taxation Statistics.

Tony Gregory

Question:

70 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Finance the total taxable income and income tax in 1995; the total PAYE tax and taxable income in 1995; the total directors' PAYE and taxable income in 1995; the total directors' PAYE tax in 1995; the total self-employed taxable income and tax paid in 1995; and the total farmers taxable income and tax paid in 1995. [15007/96]

Minister for Finance (Mr. Quinn)

The yield for income tax in respect of the calendar year 1995, together with a breakdown of the constituents of that yield, is estimated as follows:

Category	1995
	£m
PAYE	3,514.6
Farmers	70.0
Other self-employed	402.8
Withholding Tax on Professional fees	73.4
All self-employed	546.2
Deposit Interest Retention Tax	114.1
Less miscellaneous repayments	–52.1
Net Receipt	4,122.8

The relevant information available on taxable income is a provisional estimate for the year 1995-96.

Following is a breakdown of that amount in so far as it is available:

Taxable Income 1995-96.

	£m
PAYE	10,679
Self-employed (including farmers)	1,839
Total	12,518

The relevant information available relating to directors is that pertaining to directors of close companies, whose income tax liability for the income tax year 1992-93, the latest year for which the relevant statisitics are available, is estimated at £294 million. The corresponding figure for taxable income was £777 million. The figures of 1995 tax and 1995-96 taxable income attributable to directors of close companies are included in the corresponding figures shown for PAYE and cannot be distinguished.

The figure for tax paid under PAYE covers more than income tax on ordinary wages and salaries. It includes tax paid by directors of close companies who are akin to the self-employed as well as tax on other income of employees such as rent and other investment income. It also includes the tax paid under PAYE on the income from employment of farmers and other self-employed individuals.

A separate estimate of the taxable income of farmers for 1995-96 is not available. The latest year for which information on the income of farmers is available is the income tax year 1992-93, the taxable income of identified fulltime farmers who were assessed to tax for 1992-93 was £347 million, including employment income liable to tax under PAYE. The corresponding taxable income of identified trader-farmers who were assessed to tax for the same year was £138 million. This amount includes income from trades and professions other than farming and is not distinguished in the total.