Brendan Smith
Ceist:111 Mr. B. Smith asked the Minister for Finance the number of pensioners and old age pensioners whose income is taxable. [2021/96]
Written Answers. - Income Tax Statistics.
I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that income tax statistics do not generally distinguish between individuals who have income from pensions and from other sources. The only relevant information available is in respect of recipients of social welfare pensions, of whom some 66,000 are estimated to have taxable incomes. The number of these individuals who are aged 65 years or over is estimated at 32,000.
The extent to which taxation actually arises in a given case depends, of course, on the amount of other income that the social welfare recipient, or the recipient's spouse, has in the particular tax year. If there is not other income in addition to the social welfare payment, the existing exemption limits and allowances can be expected to ensure that there is no tax to be paid on the social welfare income.