Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 December 2023
227. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Finance if he will review the unfair decision to exclude parents of students studying outside this jurisdiction from the rental tax credit, as this and other measures were introduced to ease the cost-of-living pressures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56188/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Rent Tax Credit, as provided for in section 473B of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 (TCA 1997), was introduced by the Finance Act 2022 and may be claimed in respect of qualifying rent paid in 2022 and subsequent years to end-2025.
In relation to the question of parents paying for their children who are studying abroad and in a tenancy outside the State, the purpose behind the rent tax credit, introduced as a temporary measure, is to assist as part of the overall response to the accommodation shortage in the private rented residential sector in Ireland. More specifically, the aim is to provide some financial assistance to renters in that particular sector who may face high rental costs and who do not receive any other housing supports from the State. As such, the eligibility criteria for the credit specify that the rental property concerned must be a residential property located in the State.
Full details of the conditions that apply are set out in the relevant Tax and Duty Manual (Part 15-01-11A) available on the Revenue website at the following link:
www.revenue.ie/en/personal-tax-credits-reliefs-and-exemptions/land-and-property/rent-credit/index.aspx .
As the Deputy will appreciate, in designing tax reliefs, there is always a balance to be struck between providing support to as many people as possible consistent with the overall policy intention behind the measure and ensuring that there is an appropriate degree of control in the management of limited Exchequer resources.
I have no plans, at present, to propose changes to this element of the credit nor to provide specific tax relief in respect of accommodation costs for students pursuing further or higher education outside of the State.
