Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 July 2013
116. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Finance the yield to the Exchequer if universal social charge applied to contributory payments from the Department of Social Protection for all, and for those earning €60,000 or more, and if he will provide a breakdown of this by payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36280/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraTo estimate the potential yield from applying the USC to non-means tested State Pensions i.e. the contributory State Pension and the State Pension (Transition) it would be necessary to identify certain details in respect of each recipient of social protection payments such as the individual amount of these payments received, the amount of any other income potentially liable to USC, the age of each individual and whether there was an entitlement to a medical card etc. This information would be essential to determine what rate of USC would apply at an individual level. It is possible that in many cases the rate would be low. I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that as they do hold or have access to the required information set out above, there is no basis on which an estimate of the yield from the change mentioned in the question could be compiled. However, by way of illustration, if for example, a 1 per cent levy was imposed on social protection contributory State Pensions and the State Pension (Transition) the full year yield to the Exchequer would be €41 million on the basis that the estimated provision for such payments in 2013 is approximately €4.1 billion. The estimate of Exchequer yield assumes that there is no exemption threshold, allowance or personal reliefs that could be used to offset against the levy.
