Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 September 2019
115. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Finance the estimated full-year saving from the scrapping of the tax exemption on profits or gains arising from the occupation of woodlands here managed on a commercial basis and with a view to the realisation of profits. [38717/19]
View answerSection 232 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 provides for an exemption from Income Tax (but not USC or PRSI) and Corporation Tax on the profits or gains arising from the occupation of woodland in the State, which is managed on a commercial basis and with a view to the realisation of profits.
I am advised by Revenue that the available data regarding the cost and uptake for this exemption is as follows:
|
Year |
Exchequer Cost €m |
No of claimants |
|
2017 |
29.4 |
9,160 |
|
2016 |
30.6 |
8,858 |
|
2015 |
31.5 |
9,077 |
|
2014 |
30 |
8,234 |
|
2013 |
26.5 |
8,013 |
|
2012 |
25.2 |
7,550 |
|
2011 |
24.3 |
6,679 |
https://www.revenue.ie/en/corporate/documents/statistics/tax-expenditures/property-reliefs.pdf
Revenue further advise me that it is not possible to estimate the potential additional tax yield that would arise if the exemption were no longer available, as it is not possible to predict the behavioural changes by taxpayers that might occur following abolition of the exemption.
