Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

151. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will set out in tabular form the revenue that would be raised from increasing the universal social charge for PAYE earners and non-PAYE earners by 1%, 2% and 3%, respectively, for earnings above €80,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36635/13]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the full year yield, estimated by reference to 2013 incomes, of increasing the universal social charge by either 1 percentage point, 2 percentage points or 3 percentage points for all income earners with incomes in excess of €80,000 is set out in the table below:

The Universal Social Charge is an individualised charge and as such, the estimate of yield is based on individual incomes of more than €80,000.

The estimated yield is based on confining the extension of the new Universal Social Charge rates to the portion of income which is in excess of €80,000, that is, the increase is not applied to the portion of total income earned up to €80,000.

This estimate is derived from the Revenue tax-forecasting model using actual data for the year 2010 adjusted as necessary for income and employment trends in the interim. It is, therefore, provisional and likely to be revised.

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

152. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will set out in tabular form the revenue that would be raised from increasing the universal social charge for PAYE earners and non-PAYE earners by 1%, 2% and 3%, respectively, for earnings above €90,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36636/13]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the full year yield, estimated by reference to 2013 incomes, of increasing the universal social charge by either 1 percentage point, 2 percentage points or 3 percentage points for all income earners with incomes in excess of €90,000 is set out in the table below:

The Universal Social Charge is an individualised charge and as such, the estimate of yield is based on individual incomes of more than €90,000.

The estimated yield is based on confining the extension of the new Universal Social Charge rates to the portion of income which is in excess of €90,000, that is, the increase is not applied to the portion of total income earned up to €90,000.

This estimate is derived from the Revenue tax-forecasting model using actual data for the year 2010 adjusted as necessary for income and employment trends in the interim. It is, therefore, provisional and likely to be revised.

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

153. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will set out in tabular form the revenue that would be raised from increasing the universal social charge for PAYE earners and non-PAYE earners by 1%, 2% and 3%, respectively, for earnings above €100,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36637/13]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the full year yield, estimated by reference to 2013 incomes, of increasing the universal social charge by either 1 percentage point, 2 percentage points or 3 percentage points for all income earners with incomes in excess of €100,000 is set out in the table.

The Universal Social Charge is an individualised charge and as such, the estimate of yield is based on individual incomes of more than €100,000.

The estimated yield is based on confining the extension of the new Universal Social Charge rates to the portion of income which is in excess of €100,000, that is, the increase is not applied to the portion of total income earned up to €100,000.

This estimate is derived from the Revenue tax-forecasting model using actual data for the year 2010 adjusted as necessary for income and employment trends in the interim. It is, therefore, provisional and likely to be revised.

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

154. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will set out in tabular form the revenue that would be raised from increasing the universal social charge for PAYE earners and non-PAYE earners by 1%, 2% and 3%, respectively, for earnings above €120,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36638/13]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the full year yield, estimated by reference to 2013 incomes, of increasing the universal social charge by either 1 percentage point, 2 percentage points or 3 percentage points for all income earners with incomes in excess of €120,000 is set out in the table.

The Universal Social Charge is an individualised charge and as such, the estimate of yield is based on individual incomes of more than €120,000.

The estimated yield is based on confining the extension of the new Universal Social Charge rates to the portion of income which is in excess of €120,000, that is, the increase is not applied to the portion of total income earned up to €120,000.

This estimate is derived from the Revenue tax-forecasting model using actual data for the year 2010 adjusted as necessary for income and employment trends in the interim. It is, therefore, provisional and likely to be revised.

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

155. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will set out in tabular form the revenue that would be raised from increasing the universal social charge for PAYE earners and non-PAYE earners by 1%, 2% and 3%, respectively, for earnings above €150,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36639/13]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the full year yield, estimated by reference to 2013 incomes, of increasing the universal social charge by either 1 percentage point, 2 percentage points or 3 percentage points for all income earners with incomes in excess of €150,000 is set out in the table.

The Universal Social Charge is an individualised charge and as such, the estimate of yield is based on individual incomes of more than €150,000.

The estimated yield is based on confining the extension of the new Universal Social Charge rates to the portion of income which is in excess of €150,000, that is, the increase is not applied to the portion of total income earned up to €150,000.

This estimate is derived from the Revenue tax-forecasting model using actual data for the year 2010 adjusted as necessary for income and employment trends in the interim. It is, therefore, provisional and likely to be revised.

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

156. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will set out in tabular form the revenue that would be raised from increasing the universal social charge for PAYE earners and non-PAYE earners by 1%, 2% and 3%, respectively, for earnings above €200,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36640/13]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the full year yield, estimated by reference to 2013 incomes, of increasing the universal social charge by either 1 percentage point, 2 percentage points or 3 percentage points for all income earners with incomes in excess of €200,000 is set out in the table.

The Universal Social Charge is an individualised charge and as such, the estimate of yield is based on individual incomes of more than €200,000.

The estimated yield is based on confining the extension of the new Universal Social Charge rates to the portion of income which is in excess of €200,000, that is, the increase is not applied to the portion of total income earned up to €200,000.

This estimate is derived from the Revenue tax-forecasting model using actual data for the year 2010 adjusted as necessary for income and employment trends in the interim. It is, therefore, provisional and likely to be revised.

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

157. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will set out in tabular form the revenue that would be raised from reducing the annual earnings limit along with age-related percentage limits for maximum tax relievable contributions for pension purposes from €115,000 to €100,000, €90,000, €80,000, €70,000 and €60,000, respectively, if tax relief is granted at the marginal rate; the maximum rate of tax relief is reduced to 34%; the maximum rate of tax relief is reduced to 30%; and tax relief is reduced to 20%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36641/13]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I assume that the Deputy is referring to the current annual earnings cap of €115,000 which operates to limit the level of tax-relieved personal pension contributions in any one year. The annual earnings cap acts, in conjunction with age-related percentage limits of annual earnings, to put a ceiling on the annual amount of tax relief an individual taxpayer can obtain on pension contributions. A breakdown of the cost of tax relief on employee contributions to occupational pension schemes is not available by income tax rate, as tax returns by employers to the Revenue Commissioners of employee contributions to such schemes are aggregated at employer level. An historical breakdown is available by tax rate of the tax relief claimed on contributions to personal pension plans — Retirement Annuity Contracts (RACs) and Personal Retirement Savings Accounts (PRSAs) — by the self-employed and others, to the extent that the contributions have been included in the personal tax returns of those taxpayers. There is, therefore, only a limited statistical basis for providing definitive figures. However, by making certain assumptions about the available information, the Revenue Commissioners inform me that the estimated full year yield to the Exchequer from reducing the current annual earnings cap of €115,000 to the thresholds outlined in the question, and at the various specified marginal tax rates, in respect of individual contributions to occupational pension schemes, RACs and PRSAs would be as shown in the following table. These estimates take no account of any behavioural impacts which may arise from the proposed changes and which could effect the scale of any yield under the various scenarios outlined.

Exchequer Yield

Reduction in Relief Allowable at specified Marginal Tax Rates

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

158. To ask the Minister for Finance the revenue that would be raised from increasing the rate of deposit interest retention tax to 35%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36643/13]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the estimated additional yield to the Exchequer from increasing the Deposit Interest Retention Tax (DIRT) rate from 33% by 2% to 35% would be of the order of €35 million in a full year. This projection assumes no significant behavioural change by depositors or a change in interest rates applied by financial institutions to savings.

It should be noted that the figure given for the yield from a 2% increase in the DIRT rate is a downward revision of a figure provided in reply to a previous related question, No. 68 on 25 April last (ref PQ 19659/13). The revision is necessitated by a revision to the basic data becoming available in the interim.

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

159. To ask the Minister for Finance the revenue that would be raised from increasing the capital gains tax rate to 35%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36644/13]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the full year yield to the Exchequer, estimated in terms of expected 2013 gains, from increasing the CGT tax rate from 33% to 35% could be in the region of €31 million. This figure includes corporate gains. However, this estimate assumes no behavioural changes on the part of taxpayers, and increases in rates may have a significant behavioural impact and may not produce a corresponding increase in tax yield. In current economic conditions any estimate of additional yield must be treated with caution. In addition, increasing the rate could, in theory, lead to a reduction in yield from the tax.

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

160. To ask the Minister for Finance the revenue that would be raised from increasing the capital acquisitions tax rate to 35%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36645/13]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the estimated full year yield to the Exchequer from increasing the Capital Acquisitions Tax rate by 2% to 35 %, based on the expected outturn in 2013, could be in the region of €18 million, assuming no change in the existing thresholds. This estimate is provisional and subject to revision. It should be noted that this estimate is based upon an assumption that there would be no behavioural impact of this change, which could lead to a less than expected impact on Exchequer yield. In addition, the realization of any estimated yield from an increase in taxation on assets relating to property is subject to movements in the value of such assets, which are currently occurring in the economy.

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

161. To ask the Minister for Finance the revenue that would be raised from applying a 5% tax to national lottery winnings above €1000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36646/13]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am advised by the National Lottery that the total winnings over €1,000 in 2011 was of the order of €190 million. On this basis a tax or levy of 5% on National Lottery winnings over €1,000 would yield € 9.5 million. It was not possible to obtain the comparable figures for 2012 in the time available.

For reasons of equity, a levy such as is proposed in the question might have to be imposed on winnings over €1,000 from other lotteries, which could affect fundraising by charities and sports clubs.

Section 5 of the National Lottery Act 1986 provides that the surplus from the National Lottery may be used for the following purposes: national culture, including the Irish language; the arts, within the meaning of the Arts Act 1951; the health of the community; and for such other purposes as the Government may determine. The following categories have been so determined: youth, welfare, national heritage and amenities. A levy might have a behavioural effect on participation and reduce the surplus available for these purposes.

National Lottery winnings are currently specifically exempted from Income Tax, Capital Gains Tax and Capital Acquisitions Tax. I do not propose at this time to introduce a tax such as is suggested by the Deputy.