I am advised by Revenue that all self-employed persons between 16 and 66 years of age, with reckonable income or emoluments of €5,000 or more per year, are liable for compulsory PRSI pension contributions. A self employed person who is not liable to pay PRSI in a particular year may, subject to meeting certain conditions, be eligible to become a voluntary contributor.
Compulsory PRSI contributions are assessed and charged through the Income Tax system. The person concerned made a tax return for 2014 and he was liable for compulsory PRSI contributions. He will shortly receive a tax return for 2015 which must be sent back to Revenue on or before 31 October 2016. If the amount of reckonable income is greater than €5,000 he will again be liable for compulsory PRSI pension contributions - when the return is made, an assessment will be issued by Revenue that will show the amount of PRSI due for 2015.
If the amount of reckonable income for 2015 is less than €5,000, the person concerned may, subject to meeting certain conditions, make voluntary PRSI pension contributions. Any queries in that regard are a matter for the Department of Social Protection. Further information is available from the Voluntary Contributions Section, Department of Social Protection, Cork Road, Waterford.