Middle income families are cushioned from the impact of the income levy through the increases in the standard rate income tax band. A married one income couple earning €50,000 per year will pay €500 per year income levy which is the equivalent of €9.62 per week. However, they stand to benefit by €210 from the increases in the standard rate income tax band. Therefore their total net loss is reduced to €290 per year after Budget 2009.

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