Results 1,661-1,680 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (16 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: As I have previously stated, all organisations that are decentralising, including Ordnance Survey Ireland, OSI, have prepared and submitted an implementation plan as requested by the decentralisation implementation group, DIG. The plan was circulated to all staff and has been placed on the OSI intranet. The report by Deloitte, A Financial Assessment of Decentralisation Costs and Savings,...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (16 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that section 473 of the Taxes Consolidation Act, 1997 provides for an allowance at the standard rate of tax for an individual who proves for a year of assessment that he or she has paid rent for private rented accommodation used as his or her main residence. The maximum relief available is as set out in the following table: Under 55 years of age...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (16 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: Stamp duty exists on various financial cards to provide Exchequer revenue. The stamp duty on cheques, bills of exchange and promissory notes has existed for many years and when electronic means of money transfers were subsequently introduced, stamp duty was gradually extended to these products to ensure that the stamp duty from cheques etc. was not eroded. The current annual rates of stamp...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (16 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: I announced in my Budget Statement that my Department and the Office of the Revenue Commissioners would be undertaking a detailed review of certain tax incentive schemes and tax exemptions in 2005. I subsequently announced that my Department had appointed two external consultants to review separately four area based tax incentive schemes: urban, rural and town renewal as well as the...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (16 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the relevant information available as requested by the Deputy on the numbers of claimants of various forms of tax relief are set out in the following table: Tax credit/relief Year Numbers Third level education fees 2001 11,800 Rent paid in private tenancies 2001 89,800 Health expenses 2001 105,600 Home carer tax credit 2004...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (16 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: The report was drawn up by a working group under the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness. My Department is in contact with the group regarding placing it in the public domain. I will communicate further with the Deputy.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (16 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: All owner-occupiers are generally exempt from stamp duty on new houses where the property is 125 square metres or less. The 2005 budget introduced a stamp duty relieving measure for first-time house purchasers who are owner-occupiers of second-hand houses by increasing the stamp duty exemption threshold for such purchasers from €190,500 to €317,500 and by having reduced rates for house...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (16 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the full year costs to the Exchequer of the increases mentioned by the Deputy are currently estimated as follows: Tax credit to be doubled Full Year Cost â'¬m Home carer tax credit 68 Dependent relative tax credit 1 Age tax credit 13 Relief for Trade Union subscriptions 9 Relief for service charges 5 Total 96 Based on...

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (16 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: The revenue powers group was established in March 2003 to review Revenue's main powers and recommend changes. The group reported in late 2003 and its report was published in February 2004. At the time of publication of the report, the then Minister for Finance indicated his intention to allow a period for public debate and reflection on many of the wide-ranging issues raised by the...

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (16 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: CGT is charged on the lifetime disposals of most assets whether the disposal is by sale, gift or exchange. The total CGT yield in 2004 was around €1.5 billion. I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the precise information requested by the Deputy is not available. The information available is a proportional breakdown by reference to asset types of the aggregate consideration...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (16 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: The latest figures available are for what is termed the "short" income tax year from April to December 2001. They are contained in the 2003 Revenue Commissioner's report. The total cost of tax relief on pensions contributions is tentatively estimated by the Revenue Commissioners at approximately €2 billion. This total figure is broken out as follows both in terms of numbers where available...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (16 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: Tax relief on individual pension contributions is allowed at a taxpayer's marginal tax rate, which is the standard or higher rate as appropriate in each case. It is assumed that the change mentioned by the Deputy is to provide tax relief at the top rate of tax for all pension contributions by individuals, including those currently relieved at the standard rate. It is not possible to provide...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (16 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: Tax relief for mortgage interest and health insurance already operate as, in effect, refundable tax credits as relief is given at source to all, irrespective of tax liability. I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the cost of making refundable the unused portion of the tax credits for home carers, one-parent families, widowed persons and rent paid in private tenancies is broadly in...

Estimates for Public Services 2005. (21 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: I move the following Estimates:

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (21 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that capital gains tax returns do not require the amount of indexation relief being claimed to be separately identified or the amount of indexation relief that would be appropriate if it had not been abolished. Accordingly, the specific information requested by the Deputy is not available.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (21 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the estimated cost of introducing indexation in stamp duty thresholds for residential and non-residential property, as well as mortgages, would be €8 million in a full year based on the yield for the first four months of 2005. The estimated cost is based on the indexation of the existing stamp duty thresholds for property and mortgages in line...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (21 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the cost to the Exchequer, estimated by reference to 2005 incomes, of indexation of credits and bands in line with an estimated average inflation rate of 2.5% for 2005 over 2004 is approximately €245 million. This estimate is based on indexation of the main personal tax credits, namely, single, married, widowed, lone parent and home carer, and...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (21 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: It is assumed that the Deputy is referring to the main personal tax credits, the employee tax credit and the home carer tax credit, and the standard rate cut-off points associated with the main categories of earner. Had indexation of these credits and standard rate cut-off points occurred as outlined by the Deputy, their values post-budget 2005 are set out in the following table. Credit...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (21 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: I have been advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the taxpayer has been requested to clarify whether he is married to the person mentioned in the Deputy's question. In the event that they are not married, there are no provisions within the tax Acts under which they could be treated as if married to each other for tax purposes.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (21 Jun 2005)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that figures are not available to estimate with any accuracy the cost of introducing a tax credit for expenditure on child care. However, in my reply to the Deputy's earlier parliamentary question on tax relief for child care expenses, answered on 10 February 2005, it is tentatively estimated that if a tax credit of €1,200 per annum per child, or...