Results 12,521-12,540 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (8 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: I will be bringing proposals to Government in the near future on matters relating to the establishment of the proposed Commission on Taxation including its membership and terms of reference. The Commission will be specifically charged with considering and making recommendations on the following: examine the balance achieved between taxes collected on income, capital and spending and report...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (8 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: Stamp duty is a significant source of revenue for the Exchequer, raising over €3.6bn in 2006. For the first nine months of 2007 stamp duty yield has exceeded €2.9bn. This helps to fund public services and to broaden the tax base, while keeping the direct tax burden low thereby facilitating continued economic success. Any change made to the stamp duty code would need to reflect this...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (8 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy's proposal is a form of re-introduction of rollover relief. It was announced in the 2003 Budget that no rollover relief would be allowed for any purpose on gains arising from disposals on or after 4 December 2002. This relief was introduced when CGT rates were much higher than current levels. The abolition of this relief was in accordance with the overall taxation policy of...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (8 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: The tax treatment of diversification aid payments to former sugar beet growers is a matter for the Revenue Commissioners. I am informed by the Commissioners that, based on the information available to them on the current proposals for the payment of such aid, the payments are regarded as income and will be subject to income tax. The payments are not, therefore, regarded as a capital receipt...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (8 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: I would draw to the Deputy's attention that the transfer of farmland can incur liability to tax under three separate headings, namely: stamp duty, capital gains tax (CGT) and capital acquisitions tax (CAT). CGT is payable by the person disposing of the land while CAT and stamp duty are payable by the person receiving the land. However, there are a number of generous reliefs and allowances...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (8 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: A scheme of tax relief is available under section 848A of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 for donations to approved bodies, including eligible charities. The list of approved bodies is set out in Schedule 26A of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 and includes eligible charities, schools, colleges and universities, bodies approved for education in the arts as well as a number of other specified...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (8 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: I assume the Deputy is referring to reliefs available under the inheritance tax code. For the purposes of capital acquisitions tax (gift and inheritance tax), the relationship between the person who provided the gift or inheritance (the disponer) and the person who received the gift or inheritance (the beneficiary), determines the maximum tax-free threshold known as the "Group threshold"....

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (8 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: I have been advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the taxpayer's claims for refund of Relevant Contracts Tax deducted have been received. The accountants in this case requested that an amount of €402 be offset against the July/August 2007 VAT liability and that the balance be retained pending submission of the 2006 Income Tax Return and the finalisation of liability for that year. Any...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (7 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: In the nine months ended 2007, my Department spent some €665,000 on Travel & Subsistence of which €374,000 was in respect of EU and international travel. This compares with €633,000 spent during the same period in 2006 of which €378,000 was in respect of EU and international travel. The increase arises in the Home Travel category, which is mainly due to increased audits carried out...

Written Answers — Tourism Promotion: Tourism Promotion (7 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: The Mid-Shannon Corridor Tourism Infrastructure Investment Scheme was introduced in the Finance Act 2007. It is a new pilot tax based scheme for tourism facilities in the mid-Shannon area. The scheme is aimed at encouraging the development of new tourism infrastructure, or the refurbishment of existing tourism infrastructure, in that area. The scheme will be commenced by way of Ministerial...

Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (7 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: Since 2003 expenditure profiles are published annually on the Department of Finance website. The actual amount of expenditure issued is published as part of the end month exchequer material. Set out below are tables for each year that compare the published profile of net voted current expenditure with the actual amounts issued from the Exchequer on a monthly basis since 2003. Prior to 2003,...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (7 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: There is no mechanism at present allowing for a refund of VRT where a car is exported to the UK from the State; and I have no plans to introduce such a scheme at this time.

Written Answers — Services for People with Disabilities: Services for People with Disabilities (7 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 140 to 143, inclusive, together. The overall allocation of Exchequer funding for the provision of disability specific services is provided for in the annual estimates. The multi annual investment package for disability announced in Budget 2005 provided for expenditure of €135m in 2006, €198m in 2007, €253m in 2008 and €308m in 2009 mainly for health...

Written Answers — Review Body on Higher Remuneration: Review Body on Higher Remuneration (6 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: The Review Body on Higher Remuneration in the Public Sector which was established in 1969 is an independent standing body whose primary function is to advise the Government on the general levels of remuneration appropriate to certain top public service posts. The members of the Review Body are appointed by the Government. The current members of the Review Body are: Tony O'Brien, Chairman of...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (6 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that it appears from their records that the taxpayer commenced employment with the company in question during 2001. On 5 November 2007 a letter was sent to the taxpayer giving details of his pay, tax and PRSI deductions for the years 2001 and 2003 to 2006, in accordance with the records held by the Revenue Commissioners. No details are available for...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (6 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: There is no specific tax scheme to encourage workers to cycle to work. There is, however, a provision in the existing Benefit-in-Kind arrangements to allow an employer to provide an employee with a small benefit to a value not exceeding €250 in any one year without applying PAYE and PRSI to that benefit. If the €250 limit is exceeded in any year the employee must pay tax on the total...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (6 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: There are no plans for the introduction of a scheme of the type referred to by the Deputy. There is provision in the existing Benefit-in-Kind arrangements to allow an employer to provide an employee with a small benefit to a value not exceeding €250 in any one year without applying PAYE and PRSI to that benefit. If the €250 limit is exceeded in any year the employee must pay tax on the...

Written Answers — Disabled Drivers: Disabled Drivers (6 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: The Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Scheme provides relief from VAT and Vehicle Registration Tax (up to a certain limit) on the purchase of an adapted car for transport of a person with specific severe and permanent physical disabilities, as well as relief from excise on the fuel used in the car, up to a certain limit. The disability criteria for these concessions...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (6 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: I have been advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the taxpayer retired from his employment on 31 August 2007 following which the taxpayer became entitled to a company pension and a State Pension (Transition). The company has confirmed to the Revenue Commissioners that the taxpayer's lump sum entitlement was paid tax-free on 23 October 2007. The first pension payment (backdated to his...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (6 Nov 2007)

Brian Cowen: There are no plans to introduce a scheme of the kind referred to by the Deputy. There is provision in the existing Benefit-in-Kind arrangements to allow an employer to provide an employee with a small benefit to a value not exceeding €250 in any one year without applying PAYE and PRSI to that benefit. If the €250 limit is exceeded in any year the employee must pay tax on the total value...