Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 July 2017
128. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Finance his plans for a national information campaign to inform persons on the way in which to claim tax back on medical and dental expenses, in view of the fact that many persons are missing out on refunds for their medical expenses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32154/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra129. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Finance the cost to the Revenue Commissioners in each of the years from 2012 to 2016 and to date in 2017 for medical and dental expenses refunds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32155/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 128 and 129 together.
I am informed by Revenue that due to the timing of tax returns, 2014 is the most recent year for which complete data are available. Revenue received over 420,000 health expenses claims for 2014 at an estimated cost to the Exchequer of €146 million, which relates to a claims value of approximately €730m. The information for earlier years is published on the Commissioners’ webpage at http://www.revenue.ie/en/corporate/information-about-revenue/statistics/tax-expenditures/costs-expenditures.aspx. Updates will be published shortly for 2015. These figures include claims for both medical and dental expenses. I am further advised that a separate breakdown of the estimated cost of tax relief for medical or dental expenses alone is not available.
Revenue actively encourages taxpayers to manage their tax affairs and regularly reminds them of their tax obligations and how to claim their entitlements including health expenses. Revenue makes taxpayers aware of their entitlements as regards tax relief for health expenses through various initiatives including:
- Advisory visits/outreach events: For example, in 2016 Revenue participated in 434 such events, which included hosting information stands at a range of local and national events and visits to some of the larger employers.
- Marketing campaigns including significant campaigns advertising the myaccount online service and poster campaigns in 1,100 medical centres and pharmacies throughout the country raising awareness of the tax relief for health expenses.
- Targeted marketing campaigns: For example, in 2016 Revenue:
- Wrote to 137,000 PAYE taxpayers who had made no change to their tax record in the previous four years to advise them to review their records to ensure they were claiming all their entitlements and to remind them of the four-year time limit for claiming a tax refund.
- Wrote to a further 42,000 PAYE taxpayers who had claimed health expenses in previous tax years to remind them to claim their health expenses for 2015 and advising of the most efficient way of claiming.
- Release of the RevApp free mobile phone application in October 2016, containing a Receipts Tracker functionality which assists taxpayers to manage their receipts for tax purposes, including health expenses.
- Participating in radio interviews on both national and local stations.
- Displaying health expenses claims entitlements prominently on its recently re-launched website www.revenue.ie.
In the third quarter of this year Revenue plans to undertake further initiatives to continue to encourage taxpayers to claim their entitlements including health expenses. I am satisfied that Revenue is taking and will continue to take appropriate initiatives to encourage taxpayers to claims their entitlements.
