Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 526: To ask the Minister for Finance the number of workers here affected by the change in the remittance basis of taxation for foreign workers as announced in Budget 2006; the number of people that have been affected by same; the estimate of the amount of tax generated by the changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29479/06]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Section 15 of the Finance Act 2006 enacted my Budget Day announcement providing for the discontinuance with effect from the current tax year of the remittance basis of assessment for income tax in respect of employment income insofar as that income relates to the performance in the State of duties of the employment.

I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that individuals charged to tax on the remittance basis of taxation pay tax on the income concerned under the self-assessment system. The Revenue Commissioners further inform me that the data sought by the Deputy on the numbers of workers affected by the measure cannot be separately identified because all foreign-sourced income, including income charged on the remittance basis, is grouped together and assessed for income tax under what is termed Case III of Schedule D. In addition, those individuals chargeable on the remittance basis are obliged to declare only so much of the foreign income received in, or remitted to, the State. Accordingly, details of un-remitted employment income under foreign contracts, in respect of which Irish tax was forgone, are not required.

Therefore, while the Revenue Commissioners cannot quantify the exact number of employers and employees who were using the remittance basis, it was clear from information derived from normal Revenue operations that remuneration structures using the remittance basis were widely promoted. In particular, some offshore agencies targeted professionals such as pharmacists, doctors, dentists, engineers and architects, and others working in Ireland, offering foreign "off the peg" contracts purporting to ensure entitlement to the remittance basis.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 527: To ask the Minister for Finance the full range of stamp duties which apply to the issue of bank cards and the conduct of bank transactions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29480/06]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The range of stamp duties that apply to the issue of financial cards and the conduct of bank transactions are:

Credit Cards and Charge Cards: An annual stamp duty of €40 on each credit card and charge card account.

Debit Cards: €10 per annum per debitcard

ATM Cards: €10 per annum per ATMcard

Combined Cards (Debit & ATM cards): €20 per annum per card, where the card is used for both Debit and ATM transactions, otherwise €10 where the card is only used for either ATM or Debit transactions.

Cheques: 15c per cheque.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 528: To ask the Minister for Finance the number of stud farms or operations which have completed returns in relation to earnings and so on in respect of stallions; the number of such returns which have been made; the average income and profit for tax purposes reported; the highest; and the lowest; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29481/06]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The relevant information available is based on tax returns by individuals and companies of tax exempt income arising from stallion stud fees for the tax year 2004. I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the number of such returns was 128 with the average exempt income reported at €224,707 and the lowest at €245.

Because of the Revenue Commissioners' obligation to observe confidentiality in relation to the taxation affairs of individual taxpayers and small groups of taxpayers a figure for the highest amount of exempt income returned is not provided in relation to amounts exceeding €1 million due to the small numbers of returns with amounts exceeding that level. There are 8 returns of stallion stud fees in excess of €1 million.

I should point out, however, that Revenue are concerned at preliminary indications that in some instances the new, separately categorised data on exempt income and property incentives may not have been correctly entered on the 2004 Income Tax returns. Revenue is engaging with the tax practitioner bodies to draw attention to these deficiencies and to rectify them. Revenue has also increased awareness among its own staff involved in processing tax returns of the need to ensure, through closer examination of the returns, that they are correctly completed.

The information regarding profits for tax purposes is not readily available and could not be obtained without conducting a protracted examination of the Revenue Commissioners records.