Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 December 2012
138. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Finance if credit union dividends will be subject to PRSI in 2014; if they are classified as unearned income; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56215/12]
View answerI am advised by the Department of Social Protection that, in general, credit union dividends come within the definition of ‘reckonable income’ and accordingly are subject to PRSI at 4%. In the case of employees who do not have any self-employed earned income but who do have unearned income, including credit union dividends, that unearned income may, currently, not be subject to PRSI. With effect from 2014, this exemption from PRSI applying to employees with only unearned income (other than wages/salary) is being abolished. This will mean that credit union dividends which had previously not been subject to PRSI, will become subject to the charge of PRSI.
