Vol. 562 No. 4
201 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Finance his plans to allow a waiver for senior citizens to the increased tax charges on credit cards, debit cards, cheque cards, and ATM cards, especially in view of the security considerations for senior citizens; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6116/03]
The stamp duty on ATM cards, credit card accounts, debit cards and cheques are charged to the financial institutions, who in turn pass them on to their customers in the vast majority of cases. The amount charged on an ATM card now amounts to €10 per annum and a similar charge applies to a debit or Laser card. A credit card account now incurs an annual charge of €40 and the charge for a cheque is now 15 cent. The stamp duty arises irrespective of the age of the person who holds the card or account.
These charges are not excessive in the circumstances and there is no evidence they significantly discourage people from using these forms of transactions. If an exemption was introduced for one group of people, such as those over 65 years, there would be demands for similar treatment for others and the base of what is already a very modest tax would be undermined. I do not, therefore, intend introducing exemptions for any group of people.
