asked the Minister for Finance the total moneys received by the State by way of VAT imposed on the construction industry in each of the years sice the imposition of VAT on the said industry.
Written Answers. - Construction Industry VAT.
492.
It is not possible to state the actual amount of VAT yield from the construction industry as VAT returns are not submitted in a manner which would identify VAT receipts from particular trade sectors. The position, in practice, is that builders generally do not make continuous direct VAT payments to the Revenue Commissioners. In fact, many receive continuing repayments reflecting the excess of the tax borne on their purchases of building materials and equipment over the tax due in respect of their building activities.
Estimates of the net VAT yield from buildings and construction work liable to VAT (including building materials used in such work) derived from non-Revenue statistical data are as follows for the past three years: 1984, £64 million; 1983, £51 million; 1982, £34 million.
493.
asked the Minister for Finance the costs involved in the State collecting VAT from the construction industry in each of the years since VAT has been payable on building works.
There is no information available on which to base an estimate of the cost of collecting VAT from any particular trade sector. The overall cost of collecting VAT calculated as a percentage of VAT receipts is approximately 1 per cent and this figure has varied very little over the years.