Finian McGrath
Ceist:259 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the amount of tax the Government receives on a packet of 20 cigarettes; and the amount of revenue which was collected on cigarettes in 2003. [25065/03]
Written Answers. - Tax Yield.
I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the amount of tax the Government receives on a packet of 20 cigarettes, whose typical cost is €5.86, is €4.60. That consists of excise duty of €3.58 and VAT of €1.02. The provisional excise yield from cigarettes in 2003 to the end of September, covering production from the start of the year up to July, is €578 million. The VAT yield from cigarettes in 2003 to the end of September, covering sales at retail outlets between 1 November 2002 and 31 August 2003, is estimated at €224 million.