Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 14 February 2024
105. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Finance the number of farmers that make use of the income averaging mechanism available for farm income; the number of farmers that are taxed on an annual basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6711/24]
View answerI am advised by Revenue that for 2021 (the latest year for which fully analysed data are available), there were 5,530 taxpayer units recorded as computing their assessable profits in accordance with Section 657 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997, which provides for the Income Averaging mechanism.
I am further advised that the number of taxpayer units who declared themselves as a farmer on their annual Form 11 tax return in 2021 was 81,390.
A taxpayer unit is either an individual with any personal status who is singly assessed or a couple in a marriage or civil partnership who have elected for joint assessment. In this case, taxpayer units which are jointly assessed couples relates to situations where one or both partners have declared themselves as farmers.
