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Tax Yield

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 October 2021

Tuesday, 5 October 2021

Questions (175, 178, 179, 182, 183, 185, 210, 211)

Matt Carthy

Question:

175. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Finance the amount of VAT raised through the sale of bovine sexed semen in each of the years 2016 to 2020 and to date in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48054/21]

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Matt Carthy

Question:

178. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Finance the amount of VAT raised in each of the years 2016 to date with regard to forage and lab analysis and faecal egg lab testing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48058/21]

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Matt Carthy

Question:

179. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Finance the amount of VAT raised on farm disinfectants and hygiene products in each of the years 2016 to 2020 and to date in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48059/21]

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Matt Carthy

Question:

182. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Finance the estimated cost of exempting from VAT all non-oral animal health medicines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48062/21]

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Matt Carthy

Question:

183. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Finance the current VAT rate on low emissions slurry spreading technology; the estimated cost of reducing that rate to 13% and to 0%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48063/21]

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Matt Carthy

Question:

185. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Finance the number of VAT registered farmers within the State; the amount of tax relief claimed to date on farm safety equipment by VAT registered farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48065/21]

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Matt Carthy

Question:

210. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Finance the number of non-VAT registered farmers within the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48095/21]

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Matt Carthy

Question:

211. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Finance the estimated cost of allowing non-VAT registered farmers claim tax relief against farm safety equipment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48096/21]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 175, 178, 179, 182, 183, 185, 210 and 211 together.

I am advised by Revenue that the VAT rating of goods and services is subject to EU VAT law, with which Irish VAT law must comply. Farmers may elect to register for VAT or be treated as flat-rate farmers for VAT purposes. Farmers that are registered for VAT have an entitlement to reclaim VAT charged on costs incurred in relation to the farm business, including VAT borne on the purchase of agricultural equipment and non-oral animal medicines. Farmers that are not registered for VAT are compensated for the VAT incurred on goods and services used in the course of their farming business, through the flat rate addition they receive on payments for their supplies of agricultural produce and services.

In accordance with Irish VAT legislation, slurry-spreading equipment is liable to VAT at the standard rate, currently 23%, and there is no discretion, under the Directive, to reduce this VAT rate as suggested by the Deputy. The supply of non-oral animal medicines is subject to the standard rate of VAT, currently 23%, but it is not possible, under the Directive, to exempt the supply of these goods as suggested by the Deputy.

I am further advised by Revenue that the information provided on tax returns does not require the VAT charged or paid on individual products or activities to be separately identified. Therefore, the amount of VAT paid (or refunded) in relation to any specific product or activity, or the cost of exempting specific products or activities from VAT is not separately available. Furthermore, the measure to allow for accelerated capital allowances for the purchase of farm safety equipment was only introduced in 2021 for which income tax returns are not due until late 2022.

Revenue inform me that the number of live VAT registrations in the agriculture, forestry and fishing sector is 12,700. This does not include taxpayers involved in the farming sector who may be classified under a different sector due to engaging in other activities in addition to farming. As set out in Revenue’s farming statistics reports, available at www.revenue.ie/en/corporate/documents/research/farming-profile-2020.pdf, these VAT registered cases form a small proportion of the total of some 148,000 farmers registered with Revenue for tax purposes.

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