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Thursday, 21 Mar 2013

Written Answers Nos. 66-78

Presidential Reports

Questions (66)

Andrew Doyle

Question:

66. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he received a copy of the Being Young and Irish – Take Charge of Change report from the Office of the President, Áras an Uachtaráin as part of President Higgins's series of seminars with young persons here which took place in Dublin, Galway, Monaghan and Cork in 2012; if he has noted the take charge of change declaration made by the participants; the steps he has taken arising out of the report’s findings in order to achieve a young person’s vision for Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14531/13]

View answer

Written answers

I can confirm that I have received a copy of the seminar report and declaration referred to in the Deputy’s question and have noted the contents with interest. My Department actively supports the development of networks of young Irish people in our overseas communities and encourages young Irish abroad to participate in the many other Irish organisations overseas. I have asked my officials to be alive to other opportunities to foster the role of young people in promoting change in Ireland and in the Irish community abroad.

Property Taxation Exemptions

Questions (67)

Barry Cowen

Question:

67. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Finance if he will confirm if all houses within estates affected by pyrite will be exempt from the property tax; if he will confirm if he is insisting on homeowners having a fully certified pyrite test completed before being able to apply for exemption to the property tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14608/13]

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Written answers

Section 10A of the Finance (Local Property Tax) Act 2012 (as amended) provides for an exemption for a temporary period from the charge to Local Property Tax (LPT) for residential properties that have been certified as having significant pyritic damage. I am advised that the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government will be making regulations shortly setting out the methodology for the assessment of dwellings to establish significant pyritic damage. The primary route for homeowners to demonstrate significant pyritic damage, in order to claim an exemption from the LPT, will be in accordance with the recently published standard by the National Standards Authority of Ireland, IS 398 – Reactive Pyrite in sub-floor hardcore material – Part 1. This standard provides guidance on the visual condition assessment, sampling regime and testing to be carried out. The standard must be used for all assessment and testing undertaken after its publication date of 29 January 2013. The Revenue Commissioners will not be carrying out tests for pyrite.

It is possible that some of the testing carried out prior to the publication of IS 398 may meet the requirement of the standard; however, there may be a need for some additional testing or interpretation of the testing results by a geologist. In addition to testing, a visual condition assessment will be required to be carried out by an engineer or other competent professional to demonstrate significant pyritic damage.

I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the exemption cannot be claimed until such time as a certificate verifying the required level of pyrite damage has been issued by a suitably qualified professional. The exemption will then apply for a temporary period of approximately three years, starting with the first liability date occurring after a certificate has been issued. If a certificate has not been issued before the first or second liability dates of 1 May 2013 and 1 November 2013, a liable person will have the option, where the certificate is issued on or before 31 December 2013, to retrospectively elect for one or other of those dates to be the first liability date of the exemption period. If a liable person makes such an election on or before 31 January 2014, any LPT that has already been paid in respect of one or both of those liability dates (depending on which date is selected) will then be repaid to the liable person by the Revenue Commissioners.

Tax Code

Questions (68)

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

Question:

68. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Finance if he will indicate where accountability lies for issues regarding the Revenue Commissioners and the non-compliance by private companies in relation to VAT in view of circumstances (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14605/13]

View answer

Written answers

I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that tax administration in Ireland operates under a code of Self-Assessment where tax entities are obliged by law to declare and pay the correct tax on a timely basis. Failure to either make a correct return/declaration or pay the correct amount in full will result in action to recover any additional tax and, where appropriate, the application of interest and penalties. Prosecution and/or publication in the quarterly list of tax defaulters may also arise. In addition, the Revenue Commissioners operate an extensive audit and compliance programme. Cases are generally selected for compliance intervention by reference to risk. Risk is determined by a wide number of factors including compliance history, business sector, third party information etc. It follows that the higher the risk a business or individual poses to Revenue, the greater the likelihood of a compliance intervention. Compliance interventions can range from a letter or a phone call to an interview or indeed a full audit.

I would again point out that the Revenue Commissioners are precluded by Section 851A of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 from providing taxpayer specific information to third parties including elected representatives. However, the Deputy can be assured that his question and comments have been noted.

As regards the accountability of the Revenue Commissioners, the position is that they are accountable to the Minister for Finance with regard to their overall performance. However, it is a long standing tradition of this House that Revenue are independent in their performance of their functions under a relevant enactment, including the Tax Acts, and this convention was given a legal basis, as recommended by the Moriarty Tribunal, in the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 2011. In common with all State bodies, the Revenue Commissioners are subject to audit and examination by the Comptroller and Auditor General, and examination by the Public Accounts Committee. They also come within the ambit of the Ombudsman.

An Ghníomhaireacht Mhapaíochta Náisiúnta

Questions (69)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

69. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Airgeadais cén fáth go bhfuil na mapaí ar an suíomh idirlín Gaeilge don Cháin Mhaoine Áitiúil i mBéarla i bhfianaise obair an Choimisiúin Logainmneacha agus an Bhrainse Logainmneacha thar na blianta agus i bhfianaise na hoibre atá déanta ag Suirbhéireacht Ordanáis Éireann ar mhapaí Gaeilge; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [14363/13]

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Written answers

Comhairlíonn na Coimisinéirí Ioncaim dom gur tionscadal rathúil comhoibritheach idir na Coimisinéirí Ioncaim agus Suirbhéireacht Ordanáis Éireann (SOÉ), an Ghníomhaireacht Mhapaíochta Náisiúnta, é an suíomh idirlín um threoir luachála. Comhairlítear dom freisin go bhfuil gach iarracht á dhéanamh le cinntiú go bhfuil an leagan Gaeilge den treoir ar aon dul leis an leagan Béarla, agus ar an ábhar seo, tá aistriúchán iomlán déanta ar an téacs mínitheach uile agus ar na ceisteanna uile a iarrtar ar úsáideoirí na treorach a chomhlánú chun cabhrú leo teacht ar bhanda luachála táscach don chineál, aois agus suíomh maoine atá acu.

Tuigeann na Coimisinéirí Ioncaim ón SOÉ nach féidir leagan go hiomlán i nGaeilge a chur ar fáil faoi láthair don scála is mó (sin é, an mapa is mionsonraithe) ionas gur féidir le húsáideoirí díriú isteach ar thoghcheantar ar leith. Tá dul chun cinn suntasach déanta ag an mBrainse Logainmneacha leaganacha Gaeilge de logainmneacha a chur ar fáil agus tá obair leanúnach á dheanamh acu logainmneacha Gaeilge uile sna contaetha ar mhapa mórscála na hÉirinn a bhailíochtú. Cé go bhfuil seirbhís mhapaíochta mheánscála ar fáil i nGaeilge a úsáideann sonraí a bhfuarthas ó Fhiontar in Ollscoil Chathair Átha Cliath, níl an áis aistriúcháin Ghaeilge seo ar fáil faoi láthair ag an scála níos ísle sin a bheadh ag teastáil ó úsáideoirí le díriú isteach ar shuíomh ar leith, ar spéis leo luacháil maoine a fháil ann. Meastar go mbeadh sástacht úsáideoirí leis an dtreoir i mbaol dá rachfaí beo don phobal le seirbhís mhapaíochta a bheadh cuid i nGaeilge agus cuid i mBéarla. I gcásanna áirithe, d’fhéadfadh sé seo bheith ina cúis mhearbhaill.

Comhairlíonn na Coimisinéirí Ioncaim go gcoimeádfaidh siad an t-ábhar faoi athbhreithniú agus, ag comhoibriú leis an SOÉ, nuair atá seirbhís mhapaíochta ar fáil go hiomlán i nGaeilge do na scálaí uile atá ag teastáil ó úsáideoirí chun díriú isteach ar shuíomh ar leith, go ndéanfaidh siad nuashonrú ar an leagan reatha den chuid Ghaeilge dá suíomh idirlín.

Motor Tax Yield

Questions (70)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

70. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Finance the matter on which the motor tax collected in 2011 and 2012 was spent. [14368/13]

View answer

Written answers

Motor tax receipts for 2011 were €1.012bn and for 2012 were €1.043bn. All monies collected from motor tax are paid into the Local Government Fund.

In 2011 no money was transferred to the Exchequer; in 2012 a sum of €46.5m was transferred from the Local Government Fund to the Exchequer.

Approximately 34% of the Fund is transferred to the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport annually for expenditure related to public transport infrastructure and for disbursement to local authorities for roads maintenance. The costs of running the National Vehicle and Driver File are also paid to that Department – the annual cost is in the order of €14.6m. The remainder of the Fund is disbursed by my Department to local authorities, including by way of general purpose grants.

General purpose grants from the Local Government Fund are structured to bring about equalisation over time - that is a position of balance where the financial needs of local authorities are met by their resources and they are able to provide an appropriate level of service to their customers.

Local authorities cost and income bases vary significantly from one another and in calculating an appropriate distribution of these grants a number of factors are taken into account including the overall funding available for this purpose, the estimated cost to each authority of providing a reasonable level of services to their customers, the income each authority should generate from local sources and the necessity to provide each authority with a baseline allocation that will support its financial stability.

IBRC Account Holders

Questions (71)

Stephen Donnelly

Question:

71. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Finance if a deposit lodged with Anglo Irish Bank (details supplied) will be covered by the eligible liabilities guarantee; if so, the amount of the deposit that will be covered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14381/13]

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Written answers

Neither I nor the Special Liquidators are able to discuss the circumstances of individuals who had accounts with IBRC and it would not be appropriate to discuss such matters through Dáil business. However I would suggest that individual customers take up their concerns with the Special Liquidators and IBRC (in liquidation) directly. I have been advised that the Liquidator is aware of a number of customers who fall outside the eligibility criteria for the ELG Scheme due to the nature of the investment product. Unfortunately, if a customer is not eligible under the ELG scheme they will rank as an unsecured creditor in the liquidation. I am advised by the Central Bank of Ireland that certain products which were liabilities of IBRC at the time of the liquidation have a structured deposit element which is covered by the Deposit Guarantee Scheme for that element of the product. As a result the first €100,000 of any claim from these customers is covered under the DGS Scheme.

At the time that such products were offered there was no additional guarantee provided by the State. It was always the case that the ELG scheme covered only those liabilities which were entered into during the issuance window.

Property Taxation Exemptions

Questions (72)

Michael Creed

Question:

72. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Finance if the same exemptions apply in respect of liability for the property tax as to the non-principal private residence tax as they related to property owned but occupied by family members on a rent free basis as provided for in a deed of transfer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14390/13]

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Written answers

The Non-Principal Private Residence (NPPR) Charge is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government. Section 4(6) of the Local Government (Charges) Act 2009 provides an exemption from payment of the NPPR Charge in the case of a residential property that is occupied as a sole or main residence by a relative or relatives of the owner of the property on a rent-free basis. A condition that must be met for this exemption to apply is that both the property that is occupied by the relative(s) of the owner of that property, and the property that owner occupies as his or her sole or main residence, must be situated on the same property or within two kilometres of each other. I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that this exemption does not apply in the case of the Local Property Tax (LPT). In this regard, it should be noted that the NPPR Charge, as its name suggests, applies only to properties which are not a principal private residence of the owner, whereas the LPT applies to all residential properties with very few exceptions. Therefore, in the scenario described by the Deputy and assuming that no other type of exemption applies, either the owner of the property or the occupants of that property will be liable to pay LPT. Which party is liable depends on the particular arrangements that exist between the owner and the occupants in relation to the occupation of the property. If, as appears to be the case in the scenario envisaged by the Deputy, a deed of transfer may have given the occupants an exclusive right of residence for life or for the life or lives of one or more other persons or for a period that may equal or exceed 20 years, then the occupants would be the persons liable to pay the LPT.

Mortgage Arrears Rate

Questions (73)

Stephen Donnelly

Question:

73. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide, in tabular form, a breakdown per bank of restructured mortgages by type, as outlined in the Central Bank of Ireland's residential mortgage arrears and repossessions statistics, Q4 2012, published 7 March 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14410/13]

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Written answers

In their quarterly mortgage arrears and repossession statistics, the Central Bank also publishes data on the number of mortgages that have been restructured. In the most recent data that was published on 7 March last, the Central Bank indicated that, in aggregate, as at the end of December 2012, some 79,852 PDH mortgages and 21,800 BTL mortgages were restructured. However, the Central Bank has advised that it cannot disclose such data on a bank specific basis.

Tax Reliefs Availability

Questions (74)

Michael Conaghan

Question:

74. Deputy Michael Conaghan asked the Minister for Finance if he will detail, in tabular form, every tax relief that is currently available to Irish citizens; and the tax revenue lost to the Exchequer from each tax relief in each of the past three years. [14439/13]

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Written answers

I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the total identifiable costs to the Exchequer which are currently available relate to income tax and corporation tax allowances, reliefs, exemptions and tax credits available as set out in the following tables for 2008 and 2009, the most recent year for which the necessary detailed historical information is available. It should be noted that there have been changes since this period, i.e. some schemes have been abolished or modified and others have been introduced. For instance, as the Deputy will be aware, virtually all of the area-based and property tax incentive schemes have ended and this year’s Finance Act provided for a cap on property-based Accelerated Capital Allowance Schemes (in line with the tax life of the particular scheme) to be introduced from 1 January 2015. Relevant notes relating to items in the tables are also included.

Index of Tables and Notes

a) Note on the Cost of Tax Credits, Allowances and Reliefs 2008 and 2009

b) Table IT 6 showing Cost of Tax Credits, Allowances and Reliefs 2008 and 2009. Figures of cost in relation to corporation tax are included in the “Income Tax and/or Corporation Tax ” section of this table.

c) Notes on Table IT 6

d) Note on Green Paper on Pensions

e) Estimate of cost of certain property-based tax incentives and incomes exempt from tax for 2008 and 2009.

f) Note on reliefs in respect of which costs are not currently quantifiable or are negligible or are not identifiable within total aggregates.

Work is ongoing to update the costs to 2010 terms but this is not yet complete.

a) Cost of Tax Credits, Allowances and Reliefs 2008 and 2009

The following table IT 6 shows the estimated cost in terms of revenue forgone of the personal tax credits and the main reliefs and deductions allowable under the income tax system. A number of reliefs which apply both to individuals and companies is also included and the cost shown in relation to these reliefs covers income tax and corporation tax. An adjustment is included in the cost figures applying to income tax to compensate for incomplete numbers of tax returns on record at the time of compiling the estimates.

The tax credits and reliefs listed in the table serve varying purposes. Many are essentially structural reliefs through which individual tax liabilities are adjusted to reflect relative taxable capacity. The main personal tax credits are a good example of this since they may be regarded as part of the progressive income tax structure representing a band of income chargeable at a zero rate. Others, such as relief for interest paid in full or investment in corporate trades, are tax-based incentives in favour of specific groups or activities which are designed to promote certain aspects of public policy.

In computing taxable profits, account needs to be taken in some way of the depreciation of capital assets incurred in earning those profits. To this extent, the figures in the table of the “costs” of capital allowances should not be regarded as measuring a “loss of tax revenue” on profits. To compute such “loss”, regard would have to be had to the excess of the amount of the capital allowances at current rates over the amount of the normal allowances.

The figures shown for the basic personal tax credits (married, single and widowed) are the costs of these tax credits as if all other tax credits and the exemption limits did not apply. They do not include individuals who are not on Revenue records because their incomes are below the income tax thresholds. The cost figures for the exemption limits are based on the excess of the exemption limits over the basic personal tax credits.

The figures of cost are for 2008 and 2009 and all figures are based on tax due in respect of assessments for each year and not on tax receipts within that year.

The figure against each credit or allowance represents the additional tax which would become payable if the tax credit or allowance were withdrawn assuming no consequent change in the behaviour of taxpayers (for example, in relation to the reliefs for savings), or the amounts of payments (for example, interest payable on certain savings schemes might need adjustment to take account of the new tax liability).

The numbers of claimants of each credit or relief are shown for both years to the extent that they are available. The numbers included are the taxpayers who would be adversely affected by the withdrawal of the respective credit or relief.

In the calculations, each tax credit or allowance has been dealt with separately and on the assumption that the rest of the tax system remained unchanged. It would be therefore inaccurate to calculate the effect of withdrawing all the credits, reliefs and allowances by simply totalling the figures. For example, the costs shown for capital allowances and stock relief are also calculated on the basis of separate withdrawal of these reliefs. Their combined cost would be greater than the sum of the separate costs because allowances are not always fully set off against available profits. For instance, a person with €1,000 gross trading profits, €1,000 capital allowances and €1,000 stock relief would pay no tax if either of the reliefs were withdrawn but would pay tax on €1,000 profits if both reliefs were withdrawn. In this case, the cost of each relief separately is nil but the combined cost is tax on €1,000. Basic data is not available to enable an estimate of the combined cost of these reliefs to be made.

The figures for estimates based on tax returns have been grossed up to an overall expected level to adjust for incompleteness in the numbers of returns on record at the time the data was extracted for analytical purposes.

Apart from the artists' exemption, these figures do not take account of the application of the restriction of reliefs originally provided for in section 17 of Finance Act 2006, which took effect from 1 January 2007. The restriction was extended by Section 23 of Finance Act 2010.

Finally, the estimates shown in many cases are tentative and are subject to revision in the light of later information.

b) Table IT 6 showing Cost of Tax Credits, Allowances and Reliefs 2008 and 2009

INCOME TAX AND CORPORATION TAX

Table IT6

Cost of Tax Credits, Allowances and Reliefs 2008 and 2009

Table IT6

Tax Relief Provision

(1) Estimated cost for 2008

-

(1) Estimated cost for 2009

-

INCOME TAX - Exemption limits:

€m

Numbers

€m

Numbers

General Exemption (2)

0

0

0

0

Child Addition (2)

0.3

900

0.2

800

Age Exemption (2)

90.8

57,700

82.4

54,900

Married Person's Credit (3)

2,944.90

853,100

2,853.20

835,000

Single Person's Credit (3)

2,406.80

1,503,300

2,088.20

1,316,900

Widowed Person's Credit (3)

184.3

81,100

184.8

81,100

Additional Credit to Widowed Person in Year of Bereavement

4.9

4,000

4.9

4,000

Additional Bereavement Credit to Widowed Parent

6.9

2,300

6.2

2,400

Additional Personal Credit for Lone Parent

197.4

116,700

174.1

103,600

-

Tax Relief Provision

(1) Estimated cost for 2008

-

(1) Estimated cost for 2009

-

INCOME TAX -

Exemption Limits:

€m

Numbers

€m

Numbers

Homecarer Credit

79.5

93,100

63.9

77,500

Additional Credit for Incapacitated Child

39

12,300

38

12,200

Employee (PAYE) Credit

3,253.80

1,710,200

2,995.20

1,560,600

Dependent Relative Credit

2

18,700

2.1

18,200

Person Taking Care of Incapacitated Taxpayer

5.8

1,260

5.9

1470

Age Credit

42.3

88,100

43.7

90,700

Blind Person's Credit (incl.Guide Dog Allowance)

2.1

1,320

1.9

1190

Medical Insurance Premiums (4)

321

1,322,400

589.6

1,233,900

Health Expenses

266.8

542,600

145.5

492,800

Contributions Under Permanent Health Benefit Schemes, after Deduction of Tax on Benefits Received (5)

4

29,200

3.9

27,300

Employees' Contributions To Approved Superannuation Schemes (6)

655

792,600

729

713,600

Employers' Contributions To Approved Superannuation Schemes (6)

165

362,700

153

342,200

-

Table ctgTax Relief Provision

(1) Estimated cost for 2008

-

(1) Estimated cost for 2009

-

INCOME TAX -

Exemption Limits:

€m

Numbers

€m

Numbers

Exemption of Investment Income and Gains of Approved Superannuation Funds (6)*

685

N/A

780

N/A

Exemption of employers' contributions from employee BIK (6)

595

362,700

558

342,200

Tax Relief on "tax free" lump sums (6)

140

N/A

140

N/A

Retirement Annuity Premiums

352.8

116,000

237.2

101,300

Personal Retirement Savings Accounts

73.8

53,900

77

56,200

Interest paid:

Loans relating to Principal Private Residence

704.6

778,100

486.3

782,700

Other (7)

48.5

5,400

26.5

5,000

Rent Paid in Private Tenancies

96.5

222,100

85.9

196,900

Expenses Allowable to Employees under Schedule E

75.2

835,900

73.7

744,300

Third Level Education Fees

19.9

36,000

20.6

34,700

Exemption of Certain Earnings of Writers, Composers and Artists

21.8

2,630

22.1

2,590

-

Tax Relief Provision

(1) Estimated cost for 2008

-

(1) Estimated cost for 2009

-

INCOME TAX -

Exemption Limits:

€m

Numbers

€m

Numbers

Dispositions (Including Maintenance Payments made to Separated Spouses)

22.33

7,820

19.5

6,840

Exemption of Interest on Savings Certificates, National Installment Savings & Index Linked Savings Bonds

88.1

N/A

138.2

N/A

Rent a Room

5.6

3,600

5.6

3,770

Exemption of Income of Charities, Colleges, Hospitals, Schools, Friendly Societies, etc. (8) (10)

35.8

N/A

40.7

N/A

Retirement Relief for certain Sports Persons.(9)

0.2

17

0.2

15

Exemption of Irish Government Securities where owner not ordinarily resident in Ireland (10) *

320.8

N/A

486.7

N/A

Exemption of Statutory Redundancy Payments (11)*

85.4

29,800

147.8

77,000

Service Charges

27.1

455,200

26.8

452,600

-

Tax Relief Provision

(1) Estimated cost for 2008

-

(1) Estimated cost for 2009

-

INCOME TAX -

Exemption Limits:

€m

Numbers

€m

Numbers

Top Slicing Relief - Reduced Tax Rate for Payments in Excess of Exemption Amounts Made as Compensation for Loss of Office

44.7

3,790

47.8

6,110

Revenue Job Assist allowance

0.2

330

0.3

390

Allowance for seafarers

0.3

160

0.2

150

Trade Union Subscriptions

26.4

341,900

26.7

345,800

Exemption From Tax of Certain Social Welfare Payments:

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Child benefit *

435.3

401,200

390.7

372,900

Early childcare Supplement*

98.3

195,200

47.5

154,300

Maternity allowance *

18.2

23,420

19

23,300

Foster Care Payments

28.09

3,470

28.4

3,360

Exemption of Income arising from the Provision of Childcare Services

0.8

440

0.8

470

-

Approved Profit Sharing Schemes *

99

111,190

37.6

62,900

Savings-Related Share Option Schemes*

1.3

2,800

0.8

1,800

Approved Share Option Schemes*

0.1

280

0.5

370

Relief for New Shares Purchased by Employees

0.3

280

0.3

250

Investment in Corporate Trades (BES)

55.7

3,200

25.6

1,640

Investment in Seed Capital

1.7

56

2.9

77

Stock Relief *

2

N/A

2

N/A

Exempt Rental Income from Leasing of Farm Land

N/A

N/A

4.4

2,960

Relief for expenditure on significant buildings and gardens

5.9

290

4.6

150

Donation of Heritage items

4.7

5

0.7

2

Donation of Heritage property to the Irish Heritage Trust.

3.6

4

0

0

INCOME TAX AND/OR CORPORATION TAX (12)

Donations to Approved Bodies

52.4

131,100

54.1

155,100

Donations to Sports Bodies. (9)

0.3

850

0.7

2100

Employee Share Ownership Trusts*

8.4

29,200

1.3

16,400

Total Capital Allowances:(13)

2,176.60

270,200

2,281.60

298,800

of which Energy Efficient Capital Allowances

N/A

N/A

1.6

93

Rented Residential Relief - Section 23 (13) *

74.7

2,429

46.9

1,620

Effective Rate of 10% for Manufacturing and Certain Other Activities (15)

160.9

1,046

340.6

1,370

Double Taxation Relief

596.5

18,000

589.1

18,900

Investment in Films*

32.8

3200

42

2,553

Group Relief

450.3

2430

390.5

2,507

Research & Development Tax Credit (16)

146

582

216.1

900

c) Notes on Table IT 6
(1) Figures accompanied by an asterisk * are particularly tentative and subject to a considerable margin of error.
(2) The cost figures for the exemption limits are based on the excess of the exemption limits over the basic personal tax credits. They include the cost of marginal relief for taxpayers whose incomes are not greatly in excess of the exemption limits.
(3) The figures shown for the basic personal tax credits (married, single and widowed) are the costs of these tax credits as if all other tax credits and the exemption limits did not apply. They do not include individuals who are not on Revenue records because their incomes are below the income tax thresholds.
(4) Arising from the change over to Tax Relief at Source the figures relate to the number of policies issued. These include policies where subscriptions were paid by businesses on behalf of their employees.
(5) Part of the cost of contributions to Permanent Health Benefit Schemes is not identifiable as a result of the move to a “net pay” basis for contributions by PAYE taxpayers from 6 April 2001.
(6) See the following note on “Green Paper on Pensions” for background commentary on the basis of the cost figures .
(7) “Other” relates to borrowings for purposes such as acquiring an interest in a company or partnership .
(8) The income on which the cost of exemption from income tax for charities, colleges, hospitals, schools, friendly societies, etc. is based includes dividend income on which income tax deducted at source has been repaid, other investment income, payments received under covenant, donations by the PAYE sector to approved bodies together with the associated tax relief and donations by the self-employed and corporate sectors to approved bodies and approved sports bodies. Information is not available about other income received gross.
(9) The cost figures for relief for certain Sports Persons are based on income tax self assessment returns and for donations to Approved Sports Bodies are based on income tax and corporation tax self assessment returns.
(10) In the absence of other information, tax has been assumed at the standard rate of income tax even though a different rate might be more appropriate.
(11) The costs and numbers for the Exemption of Statutory Redundancy Payments are based on external data. From 2009 the “numbers” indicate the numbers of claims received in the year and not the numbers of claims approved.
(12) The costs included for corporation tax are by reference to accounting periods which ended in the years 2008 and 2009.
(13) The cost shown for capital allowances does not include any cost associated with “unused capital allowances”, that is, capital allowances which are not absorbed by a company in the accounting period in which they arise because they exceed the amount of the company’s profits of that accounting period which are available for offset. Unused capital allowances can be offset as losses against taxable profits arising in the previous accounting period and against certain profits arising in future accounting periods and can be offset against the profits of another company in the same group of companies. It is estimated that €3587 million and €5373 million of unused capital allowances were claimed in respect of 2008 and 2009 accounting periods respectively but as the proportion of this item which is included in previous years losses and in group relief is not separately identifiable a reliable estimate of the cost of the capital allowance element cannot be provided.
(14) The tax cost shown for section 23 type relief is the estimated ultimate tax cost relating to the total allowable expenditure in respect of claims made in 2008 and 2009 tax returns for the first time. The cost shown is for income tax cases only.
(15) The cost shown for manufacturing relief for 2008 is compiled using the basic data available but for technical reasons associated with a system redesign it is understood to be understated by at least €100m.
(16) The costs shown for R&D are for claims for R&D on corporation tax returns for accounting periods ending in 2008 and 2009. However, the cost for 2009 includes the amount of credit allowed against 2009 tax together with the amount offset against tax of previous accounting periods and as payable credits.
d) Note on Green Paper on Pensions - Review of estimates of cost
As part of the work on the Green Paper on Pensions, a review was carried out of the current regime of incentives for supplementary pension provision with a view to developing more comprehensive and reliable estimates of the cost of reliefs in this area. The review examined, among other things, the current reliefs and incentives for investment in supplementary pensions and the data available on which to base reliable estimates of the costs in revenue foregone to the Exchequer.
The review drew on newly available 2006 aggregate data on contributions to pension schemes by employers and employees arising from a P35 initiative introduced on foot of provisions that were included in Finance Act 2004 with a view to improving data quality. Estimates of the cost of tax for private pension provision updated for 2008 and 2009 are included in table IT6.
The breakdown and make-up of these estimated costs of reliefs differ from presentations of costs in this area for years PRIOR TO 2005 in a number of respects and are not directly comparable. Further details on the cost of tax and other reliefs and the changes in the methodology are contained in pages 106 and 107 of the Green Paper on Pensions which is available at www.pensionsgreenpaper.ie.
e) Estimate of cost of certain property-based tax incentives and incomes exempt from tax for 2008 and 2009
Certain property-based tax incentives and incomes exempt from tax - uptake and estimated potential cost to the Exchequer in terms of income tax and corporation tax forgone based on 2008 and 2009 tax returns
Provisions were included in the Finance Acts of 2003 and 2004 to enable new statistical data on the uptake of tax relief for certain property-based tax incentives and incomes exempt from tax to be obtained from tax returns. This information, derived from changes introduced by the Revenue Commissioners to income tax returns and corporation tax returns for 2008 and 2009, is set out in the following tables.
The figures shown include the amounts claimed in the year but exclude amounts carried forward into the year either as losses or capital allowances, and include any amounts of unused losses and/or capital allowances which will be carried forward to subsequent years.
Table

Tax Incentive/Income Exemption 2008

Amount Claimed

Assumed maximum tax cost €m

Number of claimants

€m

€m

Urban renewal

230.8

87.0

3,367

Town Renewal

61.6

24.2

998

Seaside Resorts

16.1

6.4

1,091

Rural Renewal

88.4

35.7

2,803

Multi-storey car parks

16.8

6.6

134

Living Over the shop

6.4

2.6

81

Enterprise Areas

6.3

2.5

138

Park and Ride

1.8

0.7

21

Holiday Cottages

36.9

14.8

844

Hotels

305.5

116.4

1,996

Nursing Homes

48.4

19.8

734

Housing for the Elderly/infirm

7.4

3.0

179

Hostels

1.68

0.69

22

Guest Houses

0.29

0.12

10

Convalescent Homes

1.4

0.5

32

Qualifying Private Hospitals

30.2

12.3

342

Qualifying sports injury clinics

4.1

1.7

60

Buildings Used for certain child care purposes

30.3

12.2

519

Qualifying Mental Health Centres

0.1

0.0

3

Student Accommodation

60.0

23.5

814

Caravan Camps

1.5

0.6

10

Mid-Shannon Corridor Tourism Infrastructure

1.8

0.7

12

Exemption of profits or gains from Greyhounds

0.0

0.0

10

Exemption of profits or gains from Stallions

92.3

15.1

192

Exemption of profits or gains from Woodlands

51.0

13.6

2,492

Exempt Patents (Section 234, TCA 1997)

198.3

51.7

1,209

Totals

1,299.2

452.6

18,111

-

Tax Incentive/Income Exemption 2009

Amount Claimed

Assumed maximum tax cost €m

Number of claimants

€m

€m

Urban renewal

233.8

93.1

3410

Town Renewal

45.4

18.3

1,001

Seaside Resorts

13.3

5.3

875

Rural Renewal

70.0

28.0

2,653

Multi-storey car parks

13.2

5.2

130

Living Over the shop

4.1

1.7

66

Enterprise Areas

5.4

2.1

118

Park and Ride

2.0

0.8

20

Holiday Cottages

34.7

13.9

786

Hotels

263.2

102.1

1,906

Nursing Homes

54.4

21.6

750

Housing for the Elderly/infirm

6.8

2.8

145

Hostels

0.73

0.3

14

Guest Houses

0.24

0.1

8

Convalescent Homes

1.3

0.5

28

Qualifying Private Hospitals

30.5

12.5

346

Qualifying sports injury clinics

3.6

1.5

67

Buildings Used for certain child care purposes

30.8

12.5

527

Qualifying Mental Health Centres

0.1

0.0

1

Student Accommodation

48.3

19.1

751

Caravan Camps

0.6

0.2

2

Mid Shannon Corridor Tourism Infrastructure

0.6

0.2

2

Exemption of profits or gains from Greyhounds

0.0

0.0

5

Exemption of profits or gains from Stallions

2.0

0.4

32

Exemption of profits or gains from Woodlands

48.2

14.4

3,570

Exempt Patents (section 234, TCA 1997)

260.7

71.7

1,268

Other

52.6

19.5

635

Totals

1,226.6

447.8

19,116

These figures do not take account of the application of the restriction of reliefs originally provided for in section 17 of Finance Act 2006 and which took effect from 1 January 2007.The restriction was extended by Section 23 Finance Act 2010.
As the Deputy will be aware, virtually all of the area-based and property tax incentive schemes have ended and last year’s Finance Act provided for a cap on property-based Accelerated Schemes (in line with the tax life of the particular scheme) to be introduced from 1 January 2015.
Notes:
- The figures shown relate to the various reliefs/incentives and exemptions as specified in the 2008 and 2009 form 11 and CT1.
- There were concerns that in some instances the new, separately categorised data on property incentives may not have been correctly entered on the Tax returns. Revenue drew the attention of the relevant tax practitioner bodies to these deficiencies to rectify them in future returns and also increased awareness among its own staff involved in processing tax returns of the need to ensure, through closer examination of the returns, that they are correctly completed.
- The estimated costs have assumed tax foregone at the 41% rate in the case of income tax and 12.5% in the case of corporation tax. This means the figures shown correspond to the maximum Exchequer cost in terms of income tax and corporation tax. However, the actual Exchequer cost could be lower, particularly in relation to the exempt income items, as the income could be subject to deductions for allowable expenses and other costs thereby reducing the level of income that would be actually subject to tax.
- Some of the costs shown above are included in the costs shown for capital allowances and section 23 relief in Table IT6. However, exempt income included above is not part of capital allowances.
f) Note on reliefs in respect of which costs are not currently quantifiable or are negligible or are not identifiable within total aggregates.
Examples of this type of relief would include:
Relief from averaging of farm profits;
Exemption for income arising from payments in respect of personal injuries;
Exemption of certain payments made by Haemophilia HIV Trust;
Exemption of lump sum retirement payments;
Relief for allowable motor expenses;
Tapering relief allowable for taxation of car benefits in kind;
Reduced tax rate for authorised unit trust schemes;
Reduced tax rate for special investment schemes;
Exemption of certain grants made by Údarás na Gaeltachta;
Relief for investment income reserved for policy holders in life assurance companies;
Relief for various business related expenses such as staff recruitment, rent, legal fees, and other general expenses;
Exemption in certain circumstances on the interest on quoted bearer Eurobonds;
Exemption of payments made as compensation for loss of office;
Exemption of scholarship income
Exemption for income received under Sceim na bhFoghlaimeoiri Gaeilge.

Budget 2012

Questions (75, 81)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

75. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the plans, if any, he has to conduct and publish an analysis of the net employment effects of the measures taken in Budget 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14452/13]

View answer

Pearse Doherty

Question:

81. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance his plans, if any, to conduct and publish an analysis of the net effect on GDP and GNP of the measures taken in Budget 2012; his plans to conduct and publish any analysis of the output effects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14458/13]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 75 and 81 together.

As stated at the time, Budget 2012 was designed in such a way as to encourage sustainable growth and to be as job-friendly as possible. In accordance with this objective a number of sectoral measures were introduced to support employment creation as part of Budget 2012, targeting job-rich sectors such as agriculture and construction.

I would point out that up-to-date employment data are presented in net terms and timely information on gross flows into and out of employment is not available. This unfortunately makes it difficult to assess the number of jobs created by any policy initiative.

Bearing that in mind, recent signs from the labour market have tended towards the positive and sectors targeted by the Government are showing tentative signs of stabilisation. For instance, employment (seasonally-adjusted) increased over each of the last two quarters of 2012, while the standardised unemployment rate based on the Live Register was at 14.1 per cent in February, down from 15.0 per cent a year earlier.

It should be noted that job creation measures are not limited to those contained in the Budget. For instance, research carried out by my Department and published with the Medium-Term Fiscal Statement (November 2012), suggests that the temporary reduction in VAT for the tourism sector, introduced as part of the Jobs Initiative, has had a positive impact on employment growth in this sector.

As the Deputy will be aware, each year my Department publishes the White Paper, detailing pre-Budget estimates of the State’s fiscal position for the forthcoming year assuming no additional policy measures. It is worth noting that without further consolidation Ireland’s General Government Balance, as a percentage of GDP, was projected to remain in double digit figures for 2012, at 10.0 per cent. This would have exceeded the deficit target of 8.6 per cent set under the EU-IMF Programme and is contrasted with an 8.2 per cent projected outturn for last year in the most recent forecasts.

The Government acknowledges that the necessary consolidation can have a negative short-run impact on economic output; however, over the medium term there can be positive effects such as increased confidence and a reduction in the risk premium as the deficit is reduced and debt is put on a declining path. In addition, it must be recalled that Ireland is a small, open economy with imports comprising a large share of final demand. This means that a substantial part of fiscal consolidation leaks out of the economy in the form of lower imports.

My Department continues to monitor high-frequency data to assess the ongoing impact of these consolidation measures on macroeconomic outturn.

Finally, I would point out that figures published this morning show that GDP increased by 0.9 per cent last year, with domestic demand stabilising over the course of the year. This illustrates that the economy can grow even at a time of consolidation.

Budget 2012

Questions (76, 77, 78)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

76. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the plans, if any, he has to conduct and publish an analysis of the distributional effects of the measures taken in Budget 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14453/13]

View answer

Pearse Doherty

Question:

77. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the plans, if any,he has to conduct and publish an analysis of the distributional effects of the measures taken in Budget 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14454/13]

View answer

Pearse Doherty

Question:

78. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the plans, if any, he has to conduct and publish an analysis of the distributional effects of the measures being considered for Budget 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14455/13]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 76 to 78, inclusive, together.

The position is that a distributional analysis of proposed tax measures is provided each year in Annex A of the Budget Book. The distributional analysis is based on tables demonstrating the effects of budget changes in respect of income tax, PRSI and USC on single, married (with and without children), PAYE and self-employed income earners over a wide distribution of income levels. The tables in the Budget Book also demonstrate the effect of changes to some payments from the Department of Social Protection such as Family Income Supplement.

In addition, every Budget Book contains a section which outlines the effect of Budget changes on illustrative cases. These illustrative cases examine the effect of budget changes on various categories of income earners including single, married, lone parents and elderly in a variety of different occupations and with varying income levels and not only demonstrate the effects of the Budget tax changes but also the effect on changes to a number of payments from the Department of Social Protection such as Family Income Supplement, Child Benefit, State Pension and One Parent Family payment were relevant.

I expect that similar distributional analyses will be completed in the context of Budget 2014.

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