Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 June 2004
143 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has drawn to the fact that persons who were in receipt of bereavement credit during the nine month tax year 2001, received credit only in respect of four years and nine months; and if arrangements will be made in order that credit for the three months which was lost be credited against the income of a subsequent year. [16257/04]
View answerAs a general principle in the change-over to the calendar tax year, tax reliefs were scaled back for the short tax year to 74% of their annual equivalent. This approach was consistent with the fact that only 74% of annual profits-earnings were charged to tax for that "short" year. However, in the case of the bereavement credit, it was decided not to scale back the credit available in the short tax year. This meant that persons entitled to it in that year received 100% of the relief they would have been entitled to had that year been a full 12 months tax year. Accordingly, there was no loss of credit as suggested by the Deputy.
