I propose to take Questions Nos. 156 and 157 together.
Figures providing a breakdown of refunds of income tax (non-PAYE) and corporation tax and in 2009 to-date are set out in the following tables. Refunds of tax associated with losses are not separately identifiable from refunds made for other reasons.
Income Tax— refunds in 2009 to-date by income tax year
|
Income Tax Year
|
Total Refund Amounts
|
|
€m
|
|
2007
|
167.8
|
|
2008
|
242.3
|
|
Other Years
|
48.5
|
|
Total
|
458.6
|
Corporation Tax – refunds in 2009 to-date by reference to accounting periods
|
Accounting Periods Ending In
|
Total Refund Amounts
|
|
€m
|
|
2007
|
258.2
|
|
2008
|
652.7
|
|
Other Years
|
220.8
|
|
Total
|
1,131.7
|
Number of tax refunds in 2009 to-date by size of refund
|
Refunds by Size in 2009
|
|
Income Tax
|
Corporation Tax
|
|
Size of Refund
|
Number
|
Number
|
|
Less than €1m
|
204,764
|
34,014
|
|
> = €1m and < €5m
|
5
|
130
|
|
> = €5m and < €10m
|
0
|
19
|
|
> = €10m
|
0
|
11
|
|
Totals
|
204,769
|
34,174
|
Note: Because of the Revenue Commissioners' obligation to observe confidentiality in relation to the taxation affairs of individual taxpayers, the number of refunds in excess of €25 million has not been provided separately and has instead been included in the range greater than €10 million. This is due to the small numbers of companies with refund amounts exceeding that level.
Number of tax refunds in 2009 to-date by sector
|
Refunds by Sector in 2009
|
|
Income Tax
|
Corporation Tax
|
|
Sector
|
Number
|
Number
|
|
Banking and Other Financial Intermediation
|
1,176
|
719
|
|
Hotels
|
138
|
185
|
|
Property/Real Estate Activities
|
25,714
|
2,175
|
|
Construction
|
20,236
|
5,476
|
|
Other Sectors
|
157,505
|
25,619
|
|
Totals
|
204,769
|
34,174
|
The sector identifier used on the tax records is based on the 4 digit "NACE code (Rev. 1)" which is an internationally recognised economic activity code system. The NACE codes are not essential for the assessment and collection of taxes and duties and the correct allocation and maintenance of these codes is subject to the limit of available resources. NACE code classifications on tax records are compiled by reference to the primary area of economic activity reported by individual and corporate taxpayers on their own behalf and the taxes collected are allocated to those codes without reference to the precise economic activity which generated them.
While the accuracy of the NACE codes on tax records is sufficient to underpin broad sector-based analyses there will undoubtedly be some inaccuracies at individual level. This should be borne in mind when considering the information provided. The sectors identified for this reply represent the closest equivalents in the NACE code system to the sectors mentioned in the question. The figures provided for the estimated yield from each sector are confined to those activities which are defined within the NACE codes associated with the sector headings shown and do not include the yield from activities and businesses identified under other NACE codes which could be related, either in whole or in part, to the sectors listed. An example of these would be architecture, engineering and the manufacture of products used in construction are not included in the heading construction above.
