Louise O'Reilly
Question:475. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Finance the estimated full year cost of abolishing the VAT on automated external defibrillators; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19366/22]
View answerTuesday, 26 April 2022
Questions (475)
Written answers
I am advised by Revenue that the VAT rating of goods and services is subject to the requirements of the EU VAT Directive, with which Irish VAT law must comply. In general, the VAT Directive provides that all goods and services are liable to VAT at the standard rate, currently 23% in Ireland, unless they fall within categories of goods and services specified in the Directive, in respect of which Member States may apply a lower rate or exempt from VAT. Under the EU VAT Directive and Irish VAT legislation, automated external defibrillators (AEDs) are currently liable to VAT at the standard rate.
As traders are not required to provide itemised details of product sales or purchases on their VAT returns Revenue is not aware of the extent of AED sales or purchases and, therefore, it is not possible for Revenue to estimate the cost of abolishing VAT on these products.
Proposals for possible VAT rate changes are considered as part of the normal annual Budget preparations, and various options for tax policy changes will be prepared and considered by the Tax Strategy Group prior to Budget 2023.