Senator Higgins suggested the Government should allow an exit from SSIAs. The Government tops up the savings deposited by people by 25%. If an account is closed before the five year period for any reason other than the death of the account holder, the terms of the scheme are breached, and a 23% tax applies on the withdrawal, which effects a clawback of the money credited to the account by the Exchequer bonus. If such an exit tax did not apply, it would not be necessary to save in the account for any significant period in order to receive the 25% bonus, merely to deposit money into the account and withdraw shortly afterwards. This would go against the purpose of the scheme.