Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

84. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of persons to date that have availed of the special assignee relief programme; the number of employers whose employees have availed of the programme; the amount of tax foregone as a result of the tax relief granted; the number of employees who have had education fees paid by their employer on a tax free basis under the programme; his views on the number of jobs that may have been created under the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24738/13]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Section 14 of Finance Act 2012 introduced the Special Assignee Relief Programme (SARP) which is designed to reduce the cost to employers of assigning key individuals in their companies from abroad to take up positions in the Irish based operations of their employer. Paragraph 10 of Section 14 provides that relevant employers must submit an annual return to the Revenue Commissioners detailing, inter alia, the number of employees and the amounts of exempt income claimed under the programme.

The first year of the programme was 2012 and employer returns received to date for 2012 have provided the following results:

Numbers of employees availing of the scheme: 6

Numbers of employers with employees availing: 5

Amount of tax forgone: €16,300 (tax free income of €39,767 by 41% for 2 individuals only)

Numbers of employees for whom education fees were paid: 1

Amount of education fees paid: €2,500

Number of jobs created: 26

Number of jobs retained: 2

Of the 6 individuals who qualified for the relief, 2 of them received an aggregate total tax-free remuneration of €39,767 and the amount of tax forgone is estimated assuming the top rate of income tax rate of 41%.

It is expected that the 4 individuals who are not reported in the employer returns as receiving tax-free remuneration are expected to claim it when they submit Form 11 tax returns for 2012 in late 2013.

It is possible that not all employers have submitted a SARP return yet. Also, the figures provided do not include the details for claims that are not included in employer returns received to date but will be made in the Form 11 tax returns for 2012 to be filed under the self-assessment system in October/November of 2013.

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

85. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of persons who have to date availed of the foreign earnings deduction; if he will provide details of the countries in which persons availing of the deduction have worked; the number of employers whose employees have availed of the deduction; the amount of tax foregone as a result of the tax relief granted; if he intends to add any further countries to the list of qualifying countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24739/13]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Section 12 of Finance Act 2012 provided for a limited tax deduction for individuals who temporarily carry out the duties of their office or employment in Brazil, Russia, India, China or South Africa. The provision applies as respects the years 2012, 2013 and 2014. I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the first year of the programme was 2012 and the relevant details of tax claims received to date from PAYE employees are as follows.

Numbers of employees availing of the scheme: 12

Relevant Countries: China, India, Russia and South Africa

Number of employers associated with employees availing of the scheme: 10

Amount of tax forgone: €61,000 (amount rounded to nearest €10)

It is possible that not all potential claimants have submitted their claims yet. Also, the figures provided do not include the details for claims that may yet be made in the Form 11 tax returns for 2012 to be filed under the self-assessment system in October/November of 2013.

The deduction was extended to include related travel to Egypt, Algeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana and the Democratic Republic of the Congo for the 2013 & 2014 tax years. Any further extension of the deduction for work related travel to other countries would be a matter for consideration as part of the Budget and Finance Bill process.