Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 June 2018
79. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the cost of implementing a flat rate of taxation on dividend income of 20%, 30% and 40% respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27306/18]
View answerI have assumed that the Deputy’s question relates to the potential change in Exchequer tax revenues, rather than the administrative cost of implementing a flat rate of taxation on dividend income at the rates proposed.
Income from dividends is chargeable to tax at a range of rates dependent on the recipient of the income (for example, whether the dividends are received by an individual, by a company or by an investment fund) and the nature of the source of the dividend income (for example dividends paid in the State or foreign dividends, dividends on shares held as an investment or for the purposes of a trade). Such income could therefore be liable, inter alia, to income tax at the standard or higher rates, to corporation tax at the trading or passive rates or as franked investment income, or to the deemed disposal and exit tax provisions relevant to funds.
It is therefore not possible to provide estimates of the tax cost/yield of the measures described by the Deputy. However if the Deputy would like to request information in relation to a change in the taxation of a particular subset of dividend type, or of dividend recipient, my officials will be happy to examine the question further.
