Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 168: To ask the Minister for Finance the cost of tax relief under the artists exemption scheme in 2008; the cost for those with incomes under €50,000; between €50,000 and €100,000; between €100,000 and €200,000 and above €200,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41537/09]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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Minister for Finance ( Mr Lenihan): I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the latest relevant available information relates to the income tax year 2006. In that year, an estimated 2,890 claimants availed of the artists' exemption scheme at an estimated cost to the Exchequer of €66 million. An income distribution by reference to bands of exempt income is set out in the following table. This information is based on income tax returns on Revenue records at the time the data were compiled for analytical purposes, representing about 93% of all returns expected from claimants for this exemption. A married couple who has elected or has been deemed to have elected for joint assessment is counted as one tax unit.