Richard Bruton
Ceist:122 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Finance the estimated cost of providing tax relief on all payments of rent by householders; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Tax Relief on Rent.
As the Deputy may be aware tax relief is already available in respect of rent paid by persons aged 55 years or over in respect of private tenancies up to a maximum of £1,000 for a single person, £1,500 for a widowed person or £2,000 for a married taxpayer assessed to tax in respect of the combined income of both spouses. The estimated 1993-94 cost of this relief is £1.6 million.
It is tentatively estimated that the 1993-94 cost of extending the relief to all households at the existing level of relief for private rented accommodation and local authority rented accommodation, would be approximately £45 million. If local authority tenants were excluded, the cost would be about £40 million. To extend the relief but without any ceiling on the amount allowable would cost the Exchequer significantly more. Statistics are not available on which to base a reliable estimate of such an extension of the relief.