Eric J. Byrne
Ceist:52 Mr. Byrne asked the Minister for Finance the average charge per car under benefit-in-kind in 1989; and the average private element claimed.
Written Answers. - Benefit-in-Kind Tax.
Eric J. Byrne
Ceist:53 Mr. Byrne asked the Minister for Finance the number of company cars which were charged to benefit in kind in 1989; and the estimated revenue foregone through benefit-in-kind on cars in 1989.
It is proposed to take Questions Nos. 52 and 53 together.
To determine accurately the precise information requested by the Deputy would require identification of the cases involved and an individual examination of all the income tax returns of such cases. Such an examination could only be carried out at a disproportionate cost.
Benefits-in-kind are chargeable to tax and therefore, no revenue is foregone as generally understood. Presumably, the Deputy is seeking information on the revenue yield from the taxation of benefits-in-kind.
The only relevant statistics which are available indicate that some 40,000 cases will be taxed on benefits-in-kind in respect of the private use of business cars during the current tax year at an estimated yield to the Exchequer of £35 million.