Results 14,681-14,700 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (7 Nov 2006)

Brian Cowen: Tax relief for health expenses is allowable as a deduction against income at the taxpayer's marginal rate for annual expenses incurred in excess of €125 per person. I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that data on health expenses incurred by individuals where the total amount of expense falls below the threshold are not recorded centrally on Revenue tax records. There is,...

Written Answers — Budget Submissions: Budget Submissions (7 Nov 2006)

Brian Cowen: I have received a pre-Budget submission from the organisation concerned. Its contents will be considered in the context of the forthcoming Budget and Finance Bill. As Deputies are aware it would not be appropriate for me to comment in advance of the Budget on possible Budget decisions.

Written Answers — Departmental Transport: Departmental Transport (7 Nov 2006)

Brian Cowen: Official transport for myself and Minister of State, Deputy Tom Parlon is provided by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. My Department does not use any other official vehicles. However, I have asked the Office of Public Works and the Office of the Revenue Commissioners, both of which operate a fleet of vehicles, to provide any relevant information, which will be forwarded to...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (7 Nov 2006)

Brian Cowen: In Budget 2005, I announced a special stamp duty relief relating to an exchange of farm land between two farmers for the purposes of consolidating each farmer's holding. The relief is contained in section 121 of the Finance Act 2005 which provides that no stamp duty will be charged on an exchange of such lands where the lands are of equal value. In a case where the lands exchanged are not of...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (7 Nov 2006)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy will appreciate that in line with normal practice in the run up to the annual Budget and Finance Bill I do not wish to comment further on the intention or otherwise to make changes in taxation.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (7 Nov 2006)

Brian Cowen: There are three significant financial elements of the sugar compensation package, as far as farmers, as sugar beet growers, are concerned. The first is an amount of €123 million, payable over the next seven years via the single payment scheme, as compensation for the drop in the support price of beet. The second element of the compensation package is the restructuring aid. In July 2006 the...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (7 Nov 2006)

Brian Cowen: I do not comment on tax proposals ahead of the Budget. I might say, however, that Capital Gains Tax applies to farmers as it applies to those disposing of property in general. The abolition of reliefs allows for a lower rate of tax for all.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (7 Nov 2006)

Brian Cowen: The Group thresholds, below which no Capital Acquisitions Tax (CAT) is liable, are increased automatically each year according to the Consumer Price Index. With regard to the exclusion of principal private residences from assessment, I assume the Deputy is referring to the gross assets test contained within CAT Agricultural Relief. In order to qualify for Agricultural Relief, at least 80...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (7 Nov 2006)

Brian Cowen: While the promotion of biofuels and other renewable energy is primarily a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, I am pleased to inform the Deputy that in Finance Act 2006 I provided for significant tax measures to promote biofuels in Ireland. The scheme of excise relief for biofuels will: provide for excise relief on up to 163 million litres...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (7 Nov 2006)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 250 and 251 together. The position is that traders making supplies in the State are obliged to register for VAT where certain turnover thresholds are exceeded or are likely to be exceeded in any continuous period of twelve months. However, businesses may if they wish opt to register for VAT where their turnover is below these thresholds. Businesses generally...

Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (7 Nov 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the amount of tax collected on cigarettes was €1,059 million in 2004 and €1,079 million in 2005. The position up to end October 2006 is that tax revenue on cigarettes is 1.3% above the corresponding period in 2005. It is not possible to estimate how much revenue has been lost during 2004 and 2005 due to smuggling. The number of cigarettes...

Written Answers — Duty Free Sales: Duty Free Sales (7 Nov 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that they have been advised by the Dublin Airport Authority that the amount of duty free cigarettes sold in Dublin Airport Authority owned outlets at airports here for 2004 and 2005 are as follows: 2004 — 57.07 million; and, 2005 — 69.04 million. The Revenue Commissioners have advised me that the information available on the amount of duty paid...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (7 Nov 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that paragraph (xixa) of the Second Schedule to the VAT Act 1972 (as amended) provides for the zero-rating of a range of medical equipment and appliances for use by invalids or infirm persons. Excluded from the zero-rating, however, are corrective spectacles and contact lenses, which are liable to the 21% rate of VAT. However, it should be noted...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (7 Nov 2006)

Brian Cowen: Translation into Irish of Budget documents is just one of many tasks involved in the production of the annual Budget. In so far as work is carried out by the staff of my Department, no separate costings are prepared for individual tasks. Accordingly, it is not possible to provide a costing of the translation work on Budget documents carried out by my Department's staff. All such translation...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (7 Nov 2006)

Brian Cowen: The Climate Change Strategy says that from 2002 onwards taxes will begin to take into account the amounts of greenhouse gases produced in any activity. It is indeed Government policy to take greenhouse gas emission into account when formulating or developing tax policy in any particular area. In September 2004, the Government decided not to introduce a specific carbon tax, following a...

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (7 Nov 2006)

Brian Cowen: I have been advised by the Revenue Commissioners that PAYE Balancing Statements for 2005 issued to the taxpayer on 9 October 2006 and 25 October 2006. However, further clarification is being sought regarding the taxpayer's pay and tax and an amended PAYE Balancing Statement will issue shortly. The taxpayer has been advised of the position.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (7 Nov 2006)

Brian Cowen: The current minimum wage is €7.65 per hour. On an annualised basis, this is equivalent to €15,515 assuming a 39 hour working week. The present entry point to income tax under the PAYE system is €15,600 per annum for a single person under 65. The position is, therefore, that no employee who benefits from entitlement to the employee (PAYE) tax credit in addition to the basic personal...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (7 Nov 2006)

Brian Cowen: The current minimum wage is €7.65 per hour. In Budget 2006, I increased the combined value of the employee credit and the basic personal credit to a level which ensures that a single PAYE person earning the minimum wage in its annualised form pays no tax. The matter of a new minimum wage rate which might apply in 2007 is currently before the Labour Court. Therefore, it is not possible at...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (7 Nov 2006)

Brian Cowen: It is estimated that of the 2.16 million taxpayers on the tax record, just under 36% are exempt from tax as low earners, 32% have their tax computed at a marginal rate of 20% and just under 32% have a computed marginal rate of 42%. If one looks, however, at effective tax rates actually paid by taxpayers, there are many who are nominally liable at the higher rate of tax but who effectively...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (7 Nov 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the most up-to-date estimates of the information requested by the Deputy are as follows: Numbers of income earners on income tax record Year Exempt Marginal Relief Tax computed at 20 per cent Tax computed at 42 per cent Total 2006 776,100 18,800 681,900 683,700 2,160,500 (Pre-Budget) 748,600 22,500 675,400 768,200 2,214,700 Many income...