Jackie Cahill
Ceist:87. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Finance the tax allowances available for carers who do not qualify for a carer's allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42825/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 17 October 2019
Ceisteanna (87)
Freagraí scríofa
There are a number of tax reliefs available to individuals who are carers.
The Home Carer Tax Credit is available to married couples or civil partners that are jointly assessed, where one spouse or civil partner stays at home to take care of a dependent person. Its current value is €1,500. The carer spouse or civil partner may earn up to €7,200 per year without affecting the amount of the credit awarded. Where this income exceeds €7,200, the amount of credit available is reduced by one half of the excess over €7,200, subject to a maximum income limit in 2019 of €10,200. Further details on this credit can be found at the link: https://www.revenue.ie/en/tax-professionals/tdm/income-tax-capital-gains-tax-corporation-tax/part-15/15-01-29.pdf In Budget 2020, I announced that the Home Carer Tax Credit will be increased from €1,500 to €1,600.
The Incapacitated Child Tax Credit is a tax credit of €3,300, which can be claimed by a person in respect of a child who is permanently incapacitated either physically or mentally from maintaining himself or herself and had become so before reaching 21 years of age or finishing full-time education. More information about this credit is available at the link: https://www.revenue.ie/en/tax-professionals/tdm/income-tax-capital-gains-tax-corporation-tax/part-15/15-01-05.pdf
The Dependent Relative Tax Credit is a tax credit of €70, which can be claimed by an individual who maintains, at his or her own expense, a relative, or a child, who is unable to maintain himself or herself. This credit cannot be claimed in conjunction with the Incapacitated Child Tax Credit and is subject to a cap on the income of the dependent relative. Further information on this credit can be found at the link: https://www.revenue.ie/en/tax-professionals/tdm/income-tax-capital-gains-tax-corporation-tax/part-15/15-01-27.pdf
The Single Person Child Carer Tax Credit is a tax credit of €1,650, which is available to a single parent (whether widowed, separated, deserted or a single parent) with a dependent child who is under 18 or, if over 18, is an incapacitated child who satisfies the Incapacitated Child Tax Credit criteria. Detailed guidance on this credit is available at the link: https://www.revenue.ie/en/tax-professionals/tdm/income-tax-capital-gains-tax-corporation-tax/part-15/15-01-41.pdf
In addition, income tax relief is available for certain health expenses, including visits to the doctor, medicines, nursing care in the patient’s home (in certain circumstances), nursing home fees, expenditure in respect of children with life threatening illnesses, kidney patients’ expenses, mileage for individuals who need to travel for treatment and certain medical appliances. More information on tax relief for health expenses is available at the link: https://www.revenue.ie/en/tax-professionals/tdm/income-tax-capital-gains-tax-corporation-tax/part-15/15-01-12.pdf
And finally an exemption from income tax applies in respect of the Carer’s Support Grant and the Domiciliary Care Allowance, which are payments made by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection. The question of a person’s entitlement to these payments and to the Carer’s Allowance is a matter for the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection.