Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 113: To ask the Minister for Finance the number of high net worth persons who have been identified by the Revenue Commissioners for monitoring and review in terms of tax compliance; the number of such persons who have been identified; the ranges of net worth identified as qualifying for this category in bands of €5 million; the proportion of income tax such persons have paid in proportion to their income for the tax years 2003 and 2004 and other years for which such data is available from the year 2000 to date in 2006; the principal occupations of such high net worth persons, for example, property developer, land owner, farmer, industrialist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21997/06]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the High Wealth Individuals Business Unit of the Large Cases Division monitors the tax compliance of approximately 300 individuals who are considered to be Ireland's wealthiest individuals, each having in general a net worth in excess of about €50m. This unit also monitors the related trusts and private investment vehicles of these individuals. Wealthy individuals not in the Large Cases Division come within the remit of the other operational Divisions. As information on net worth is not required on returns of income, it is not possible to provide definitive information in regard to the ranges of net worth of these individuals. It is estimated that the average rates of tax paid by the high wealth individuals for whom the Large Cases Division is responsible are set out in the following table:

The income figure used in estimating these average rates of tax is the figure before deducting specific reliefs, such as capital allowances and trading losses, but it does not include certain income such as artists' exempt income and patent income. It has not been possible to include deposit interest retention tax (DIRT) as tax paid in the computation of average rate for the years 2002 and 2003 whereas the related income has been included. This has the effect of reducing the average rate in these years. In respect of 2004 it has not been possible to provide information on the average rate in the time available. As the tax returns for 2005 and 2006 are not yet due the information requested is not available for these tax years. While it is difficult to categorise precisely by occupation the individuals whose tax affairs are dealt with in Large Cases Division, in broad terms they are principally involved in the following sectors of the economy: property development and construction, retail sales, entertainment, IT, hotels and the motor trade. Finally, I would point out to the Deputy that the Revenue Commissioners' study "Effective tax rates of the top 400 earners: Report for the tax year 2002" will be published by my Department shortly.