Tax Code.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 February 2008

Tuesday, 12 February 2008

Ceisteanna (85)

Dr Martin Mansergh

Ceist:

180 Deputy Martin Mansergh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the number of personal taxpayers who claimed mortgage interest relief in the most recent year for which figures are available. [5154/08]

Freagraí scríofa

Tánaiste and Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Cowen)

I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the numbers of claimants for mortgage interest relief by way of tax relief at source for 2006, the most recent year for which full actual figures are available, is 593,200. While corresponding figures for 2007 will not be available until all annual returns for that year are received from the institutions which operate the tax relief at source system, it is estimated that the numbers of claimants for 2007 is of the order of 652,000. This figure is provisional and subject to revision. It should be noted that married couples are counted as a single claimant.