asked the Minister for Finance the amount of taxes paid by farmers in each of the years 1975 to 1979 in (a) income tax and (b) wealth taxes.
Written Answers. - Income Tax Figures.
334.
The amount of income tax in respect of farming profits paid by farmers in each of the years 1975 to 1979 is estimated as follows:—
|
Year |
Income Tax |
|
£m |
|
|
1975 |
1.1 |
|
1976 |
3.0 |
|
1977 |
7.0 |
|
1978 |
8.0 |
|
1979 |
16.0 |
These figures are estimated, as income tax on farmers' profits are collected with Schedule D tax generally.
The statistics available do not provide the information sought regarding the amount of wealth tax paid by farmers since the receipts for the tax are not classified according to the occupations or professions of individual taxpayers.
335.
asked the Minister for Finance the amount of income tax collected by the Revenue Commissioners in each of the years 1975 to 1979 and the proportion of that figure in cash and percentage terms paid by those on PAYE.
The total income tax receipts and the amount collected through the PAYE mechanism are set out below. For purposes of comparison it is important, when interpreting these figures, to keep the following factors in mind:
(1) The PAYE figures cover more than income tax on ordinary wages and salaries. They include tax paid by directors of close companies and also tax on "other income" of employees, for example, rent, interest receipts and so on.
(2) There have been changes in the categories of taxpayers within the scope of PAYE over the years covered. In particular public departments were brought within the scope of PAYE in April 1976. The figures for periods prior to this date do not therefore include State employees. This accounts for the large rise in the percentage share of income tax receipts attributable to PAYE since then.
(3) The post office dispute delayed the collection of income tax in 1979. The delay affected non-PAYE receipts to a greater extent than PAYE receipts.
|
Year |
Income tax |
PAYE |
PAYE receipts as % of total |
|
£m |
£m |
||
|
1975 |
332.2 |
236.7 |
71.3 |
|
1976 |
460.5 |
359.4 |
78.0 |
|
1977 |
523.0 |
445.1 |
85.1 |
|
1978 |
604.4 |
523.9 |
86.7 |
|
1979 |
732.2 |
647.5 |
88.4 |
Note: The figures quoted refer to net receipts by the Revenue Commissioners.