Tax Collection.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 November 2009

Thursday, 19 November 2009

Ceisteanna (91, 92, 93)

Richard Bruton

Ceist:

87 Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance his estimate of the contribution of the housing sector to tax revenue in each year since 2000 to date in 2009. [42516/09]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan)

Information in relation to taxes on housing is available in respect of value added tax on new housing and the maintenance and repair to all housing and in respect of stamp duty on residential and commercial property. More limited information is available in relation to Capital Gain Tax on residential and commercial property. The estimated yield are as follows:

VAT

Year	New housing	Housing repair and maintenance	Total
	€m	€m	€m
2000	809	332	1,141
2001	927	382	1,309
2002	1,100	336	1,436
2003	1,541	332	1,873
2004	1,940	387	2,327
2005	2,405	436	2,841
2006	2,727	520	3,247
2007	2,487	566	3,053
2008	1,577	617	2,194
2009	549	469	1,018

Richard Bruton

Ceist:

88 Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance the amount of income receipts contributed by the top 5% of income taxpayers in each year since 2000 to date in 2009; and the percentage of total income tax receipts which it represents. [42517/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan)

I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the relevant historical information available relates to the income tax liability of the top 5% of income earners as derived from income tax returns filed for the income tax years 2000/01 to 2007, the latest year for which such information is available. On this basis the information requested by the Deputy is set out as follows:

Top 5% of Income Earners

Income Tax Year	Income Tax liability of top 5% of income earners	Percentage of total income tax liability from tax returns
	€m	%
2000/01	3,089	39.5
2001	2,344	41.4
2002	3,272	42.0
2003	3,638	41.2
2004	4,148	41.2
2005	4,819	43.4
2006	5,440	45.4
2007	5,710	46.5

The figures in the table are based on details from tax returns on record at the time the data for each year were compiled for analytical purposes. This was generally based on coverage levels representing in or about 95% of all returns expected.

The 2001 income tax year was a short transitional tax "year" running from 6 April to 31 December 2001, which preceded the first full calendar tax year 1 January 2002 to 31 December 2002. It should be noted that, as self-employed taxpayers were assessed to tax for the short "year" on 74% of the profits earned in a 12-month accounting period, the tax figure shown for 2001 in the table will not be directly comparable with those of earlier or later years. The tax liabilities of the top 5% of income earners are rounded to the nearest million as appropriate. A married couple who has elected or has been deemed to have elected for joint assessment is counted as one tax unit.

Richard Bruton

Ceist:

89 Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance the value of tax foregone in providing tax relief to pension contributions in each year since 2000 to date in 2009, distinguishing the relief against income tax, PRSI, health and other levies and corporation tax; and the number of persons receiving relief. [42518/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan)

The following tables provide a breakdown of the estimated cost of tax and PRSI reliefs relating to private pension contributions for 2006 and 2007, the latest year for which the most up-to-date data is available. The 2007 figures represent an update of the relevant 2006 cost estimates set out in table 7.2 of the Green Paper on Pensions published in the Autumn of 2007. Figures have been rounded where appropriate. Corresponding estimates are also provided for 2005 to the extent that it has been possible to provide them on a consistent and comparable basis. As similar data sources would not be available for the years prior to 2005, it is not possible to provide costings on a similar basis for those years.

I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that sufficient data to enable estimates to be provided for the tax year 2008 are not yet available as the tax returns for that year, in which data on tax relief for contributions to personal pension plans (RACs and PRSAs) are available, are only now being made and processed. There is no data yet available to the Revenue Commissioners in relation to pension contributions in 2009.

2005

Estimate of the cost of tax reliefs on private pension contributions 2005.
	Estimated costs	Numbers*
	€ million
Employees’ Contributions to approved Superannuation Schemes	425	565,200
Employers’ Contributions to approved Superannuation Schemes	90	**296,500
Estimated cost of exemption of employers’ contributions from employee BIK	370	296,500
Retirement Annuity Contracts (RACs)	358	121,200
Personal Retirement Savings Accounts (PRSAs)	42	32,900

*Numbers as included in P35 returns from employers to Revenue for 2005.

**Numbers of employees for whom employers are contributing to occupational pension funds as included in P35 returns to Revenue for 2005.

2006

Estimate of the cost of tax and PRSI reliefs on private pension contributions 2006.
	Estimated costs	Numbers*
	€ million
Employees’ Contributions to approved Superannuation Schemes	540	693,100
Employers’ Contributions to approved Superannuation Schemes	120	**363,100
Estimated cost of exemption of employers’ contributions from employee BIK	510	363,100
Retirement Annuity Contracts (RACs)	435	125,900
Personal Retirement Savings Accounts (PRSAs)	55	45,200
Estimated cost of PRSI and Health Levy relief on employee and employer contributions	220	Not available

*Numbers as included in P35 returns from employers to Revenue for 2006.

**Numbers of employees for whom employers are contributing to occupational pension funds as included in P35 returns to Revenue for 2006.

2007 (provisional)

Estimate of the cost of tax and PRSI reliefs on private pension contributions 2007.
	Estimated costs	Numbers*
	€million
Employees’ Contributions to approved Superannuation Schemes	590	708,100
Employers’ Contributions to approved Superannuation Schemes	150	**385,100
Estimated cost of exemption of employers’ contributions from employee BIK	540	385,100
Retirement Annuity Contracts (RACs)	420	123,900
Personal Retirement Savings Accounts (PRSAs)	65	56,400
Estimated cost of PRSI and Health Levy relief on employee and employer contributions	240	Not available

*Numbers as included in P35 returns from employers to Revenue for 2007. Figures are as verified to date but may be understated and subject to revision.

**Numbers of employees for whom employers are contributing to occupational pension funds as included in P35 returns to Revenue for 2007. Figures are as verified to date but may be understated and subject to revision.