asked the Minister for Finance why civilian employees with the Corps of Engineers, Curragh Camp, have deductions made from their wages for income tax purposes each financial year between the end of August and the 5th April following, instead of having regular deductions made over the whole year; and if arrangements can be made to have this altered.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Department of Defence Civilian Employees.
45.
The system of tax deductions in force for the civilian employees in question employed by the Department of Defence includes the making of provisional deductions as from the beginning of the tax year, that is, from April. These are adjusted later in the year when formal assessments are made. In this way, collection of the total tax due is spread over the whole year.
Provisional deductions, however, are made only where authorised by the employee. A number of the civilian employees at the Curragh have failed to take part in the provisional deduction scheme although it was brought to their notice. In their cases deductions are not made until the formal assessments are notified, which would normally be in July or August. Consequently, the tax due has to be collected from that time up to the end of the year.
A further circular letter will be sent to the employees concerned, when their 1969-70 income tax returns are being issued, drawing their attention once more to the existence of the provisional tax deduction scheme and advising them that it is in their own interests to participate in it.
Is the Minister aware that the employees concerned say that they have never been informed that they could have a provisional scheme operated? Would the Minister say if there is any possibility of arranging that there would be a standard collection system similar to PAYE operated here and in forestry and other State employments?
If some employees claim that they have not heard about this we shall certainly make sure it is brought to their notice and we shall try to even out payments over the year as much as possible.
That is all they ask.