Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 May 2020
93. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Finance if consideration will be given to altering the tax relief on third-level fees to enable teachers who undertake a third-level course to receive tax relief on the full amount of course fees and registration fees that they pay. [5101/20]
View answerSection 473A of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 provides for income tax relief in respect of qualifying tuition fees paid by an individual for a third level education course, subject to the terms and conditions set out in that section. The relief is granted at the standard rate of income tax (currently 20%), where an individual pays qualifying fees for an approved course, whether on his or her own behalf, or on behalf of another individual. Fees which are met from any other source, from a grant or scholarship for example, are not allowable. In addition, examination fees, administration fees and registration fees do not qualify for relief.
The maximum amount of fees that can qualify for the relief is €7,000 per course. “Qualifying fees” for the purposes of the relief mean tuition fees in respect of an approved course, at an approved college, reduced by the amount of the "student contribution". The disregarded "student contribution" amount is currently €3,000 in the case of a full-time course and €1,500 in the case of a part-time course, and it applies to all third level courses. This means the first €3,000 or €1,500, as appropriate, of all fees claimed by an individual taxpayer does not attract tax relief. As a claim may relate to one or more students, generally claimants will get full tax relief on the tuition fees for each of the second and subsequent students in their claim.
As the Deputy will appreciate, I must be mindful of the public finances and the many demands on the Exchequer; tax reliefs, no matter how worthwhile in themselves, lead to a narrowing of the tax base. I must also take into account that reliefs of this nature should, as far as is practicable, be equal as between different classes of tax-payers. In this regard, teachers receive the same level of relief as other postgraduate students.
Full details of the relief, including the terms and conditions that apply, are set out on the Revenue website at:
https://www.revenue.ie/en/personal-tax-credits-reliefs-and-exemptions/education/tuition-fees-paid-for-third-level-education/index.aspx
