Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 4 Jul 1990

Vol. 401 No. 1

Written Answers. - Income Tax Allowance.

Dermot Fitzpatrick

Ceist:

41 Dr. Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Finance the number of persons who are granted the income tax age allowance of £200; the number of married couples who are granted the age allowance of £400; the cost of such allowances to the Exchequer per annum; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Finance (Mr. A. Reynolds)

The information requested, estimated by reference to the current income tax year, is as follows:

Age Allowance	Number of cases	Full year cost to the Exchequer
£		£million
200 (single/ widowed	32,000	2.3
400 (married)	18,500	2.9
Totals	50,500	5.2

In addition, it is estimated that some 36,000 cases on the tax record who would otherwise be entitled to age allowances are exempt from income tax due to the operation of the age exemption limits or are benefiting from the marginal relief which applies where income does not greatly exceed the exemption limits. As the Deputy will be aware, the age exemption limits are now about 15 per cent higher than they were before the 1989 budget.