Written Answers Nos. 58-65
58. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Finance if, in view of the expected expansion of the dairy industry in Ireland post-2015, he will consider modifying the capital allowance period for farm buildings from seven years to three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39519/12]
View answerPersons chargeable to tax on their farming profits may claim a farm buildings allowance for capital expenditure on the construction of farm buildings (other than buildings used as a dwelling) and certain other works. The cost is written off at the rate of 15% of the cost in each of the first 6 years with the remaining 10% in year 7. This compares favourably with other allowances for example, for industrial buildings and I have no plans to amend the capital allowance period for farm buildings at this time.
59. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider extending the enhanced mortgage interest relief to first-time buyers who signed contracts for their homes in 2008 and were therefore obliged to pay inflated prices, but who did not draw down their loans or incur interest payments until 2009 because they purchased off the plans; if so, the criteria that will be required to prove that the contractual obligation was in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39560/12]
View answerThe position is that in Budget 2012, the Government fulfilled its commitment contained in the Programme for Government to increase the rate of mortgage interest relief to 30 per cent for first-time buyers who took out their first mortgage in the period 2004 to 2008. The legislation to give effect to this was introduced by way of Section 9 Finance Act 2012 and provides that the new 30% rate of tax relief applies to qualifying interest paid on a qualifying loan taken out on or after 1 January 2004 and on or before 31 December 2008. In addition, I have sought to be as flexible as possible within the constraints pertaining. A mortgage holder will qualify for the increased rate if they made their first mortgage interest payment in the period 2004 to 2008 or if they drew down their mortgage in that period.
As with all time limited reliefs, there will always be people who just miss out, and that is why I have been as flexible as possible. However, I do not intend to extend the parameters of the measure any further as it would become less targeted and more costly.
60. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Finance the estimated tax yield from the abolition of reliefs (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39607/12]
View answerI assume the Deputy is seeking an estimate of the yield that would accrue to the Exchequer, should all of the tax reliefs specified for the purposes of the restriction of reliefs be abolished. The most recent report by the Revenue Commissioners analysing the high income individuals' restriction is in respect of the 2010 tax year. This report was published by my Department early last month and is available at http://www.taxpolicy.gov.ie. Table 3 of that report shows the total value of the underlying claims in respect of specified reliefs as being €373 million. For illustration, if the total abolition of the relevant reliefs is what the Deputy has in mind, the full year yield, in terms of the 2010 claims, estimated at an assumed rate of income tax at 41%, would be in the order of €150 million.
It would be important to undertake an evaluation of each individual specified relief and the socio-economic objectives which each was designed to encourage, before the abolition of any of the reliefs could be considered. It is also important to note that many of the specified reliefs have already been abolished. However, because of the nature of some of those reliefs, individuals have a right to claim them for a seven-year period. There are a number of legal considerations that would hinder the abolition of the reliefs during such run down periods.
61. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Finance the estimated tax yield if a 1% levy was applied in Budget 2013 to all earners whose individual incomes surpassed €100,000 or on couples whose joint income surpassed €200,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39608/12]
View answerI assume the Deputy has in mind a 1 percentage point increase in the rate of Universal Social Charge (USC) applying to incomes exceeding €100,000 in the manner indicated in the question. The Universal Social Charge (USC) is an individualised charge and as such the yield is calculated for individual incomes of more than €100,000 rather than dual incomes of more than €200,000. On that basis I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the full year yield, estimated by reference to 2013 incomes, would be €67 million. The estimated yield is based on confining the 1 percentage point increase to the portion of income which is in excess of €100,000, that is, the increase is not applied to the portion of total income earned up to €100,000. The figure is an estimate from the Revenue tax-forecasting model using actual data for the year 2010 adjusted as necessary for income and employment trends in the interim. It is, therefore, provisional and likely to be revised.
62. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Finance the number of staff employed in the Revenue Commissioners in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and currently in 2012; the numbers of staff in each of those years assigned to collection of capital taxes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39609/12]
View answerThe Revenue Commissioners is an integrated tax and customs administration. They currently employ 5,718 staff across their nine main business programmes. All of the staff assigned to these programmes support, in varying degrees, the central and overarching programme of "tax collection". There are no staff specifically assigned to the collection of capital taxes, such taxes are encompassed in the integrated approach to tax collection. There are currently 837 staff employed in the Collector General's Division of the Revenue Commissioners, one of their primary roles is the collection of taxes. The Revenue Commissioners have provided me with the information in the following table in response to the Deputy's question.
Table: Revenue and Collector General's Staff Numbers* 2007 to date
|
Year |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 (12/09/2012) |
|
Total Staff |
6,589 |
6,581 |
6,105 |
6,076 |
5,962 |
5,718 |
|
Collector General's Staff |
805 |
799 |
838 |
859 |
858 |
837 |
* The staff numbers are full-time equivalents
63. Deputy Ray Butler asked the Minister for Finance if he will outline in tabular format the annual salary costs for private and constituency offices of Ministers in his Department in each of the years 2009 and 2010; the same figures for any Ministers of State in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39642/12]
View answerSince my appointment as Minister for Finance on 9 March 2011, the following staff have been appointed to my private office:
|
GRADE |
SALARY SCALE (per annum) |
Wholetime Equivalent |
|
1 Private Secretary |
€33,247 - €58,294 |
1.00 |
|
2 Executive Officers (EO) |
€29,024 - €47,379 |
1.00 |
|
1 Clerical Officer (CO) |
€23,177- €37,341 |
1.00 |
|
2 Clerical Officers (CO) |
€23,042 - €36,267 |
1.00 |
The following staff are assigned to work on constituency matters:
|
GRADE |
SALARY SCALE (per annum) |
Wholetime Equivalent |
|
1 Personal Assistant |
€43,715 - €56,060 |
1.00 |
|
1 Executive Officer (EO) |
€30,516 - €47,975 |
1.00 |
|
1 Clerical Officer (CO) |
€19,814 - €31,963 |
1.00 |
|
1 Clerical Officer (CO) |
€23,042 - €36,267 |
1.00 |
My colleague, Mr Brian Hayes, TD Minister of State for Public Service Reform and the Office of Public Works at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and Department of Finance has appointed the following staff to his office.
|
GRADE |
SALARY SCALE (per annum) |
Wholetime Equivalent |
|
1 Staff Officer (SO) |
€33,070 - €43,906 |
1.00 |
64. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding a tax rebate in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39650/12]
View answerI have been advised by the Revenue Commissioners that a tax refund for 2011 issued to the person concerned on 3 September 2012.
65. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding a tax rebate in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39651/12]
View answerI have been advised by the Revenue Commissioners that a tax refund for 2011 issued to the person concerned on 3 September 2012.
