Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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90. To ask the Minister for Finance the revenue that would be raised for the Exchequer by enacting the taxation provisions of the betting Bill but applying 3% to online bets and a 15% tax on gross profit for remote betting intermediaries, as well as extending an additional 2% to the betting shop tax, bringing it to 3%, and ensuring this tax is passed on to the customer, as opposed to being paid by the bookmaker. [25261/15]

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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116. To ask the Minister for Finance the revenue that would be raised for the Exchequer by applying 3% to online bets and a 15% tax on gross profit for remote betting intermediaries; as well as extending an additional 2% to the betting shop tax, bringing it to 3%, and ensuring this tax is passed on to the customer, as opposed to being paid by the bookmaker, and payable on winnings. [25291/15]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 90 and 116 together.

Following commencement of the licensing provisions for remote operators, provided for in the Betting (Amendment) Act 2015, provisions for the extension of duty to remote bookmakers and remote betting intermediaries were commenced on 15 April. These operators are liable for duty at 1% on the amount of a bet from customers in the State and betting intermediary duty of 15% on the commission charged to customers in the State.

It is not possible to be certain about the additional revenue which will be raised for the Exchequer from the remote sector, however, using available data, it has been estimated that the extension of the betting duty, at a rate of 1%, to remote operations could raise up to €25m in a full year.

In 2014, betting duty receipts from traditional bookmakers amounted to €26.2m. 

The Betting (Amendment) Act 2015 was only commenced in April and the application of duty to remote operators will not come into effect until 1 August 2015.  I am therefore reluctant to estimate prospective yields from the rates proposed by the Deputy until I have had the opportunity to examine a substantial set of Exchequer returns arising from the new legislation.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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91. To ask the Minister for Finance the revenue that would be raised for the Exchequer by placing a tax on soft sugary drinks, as proposed by the Irish Heart Foundation, at the rates of 0.25%, 0.5%, 1%, 2%, 5% and 10%. [25263/15]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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In their pre-Budget 2015 submission, the Irish Heart Foundation proposed introducing a tax on sugar-sweetened drinks which increases the prices of such products by at least 20%. This proposal left open the possibility of imposing such a tax as either an ad valorem tax, which would be imposed as a percentage of the final retail price (i.e 10%), or a specific duty, which would be imposed as a specific amount per volume of sugar-sweetened liquid (i.e €7.76 per hectolitre). However, the Deputy in his question seems to be suggesting an ad valorem tax.

There is no official data on the total sales revenue of sugar-sweetened drinks in Ireland. However, using data from the industry sources gives the following yield for rates of 0.25%, 0.5%, 1%, 2%, 5% and 10% on the final sales price of carbonated drinks (diet and non-diet), concentrates, & sports and energy drinks:

These figures assume no behavioural change as a result of a sugar-sweetened drinks tax. I would also point that an ad valorem tax of this type would be imposed at point of sale. Therefore, it would impose compliance costs on retailers and require additional Revenue resources.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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92. To ask the Minister for Finance the revenue that would be raised for the Exchequer from the introduction of a new rate of 48% on an individual’s income in excess of €100,000. [25264/15]

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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110. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will provide, in tabular form, the cost to the Exchequer of exempting income earners below €17,542, €20,000, €22,500, €25,000, €27,500 and €30,000 per annum, from the universal social charge. [25285/15]

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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124. To ask the Minister for Finance the annual cost to the Exchequer of providing a Pay As You Earn credit for self-employed earners, up to €50,000. [25299/15]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 92, 110 and 124 together.

Regarding the first question, I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that full year yield to the Exchequer, estimated by reference to 2015 incomes, of the introduction of the suggested new third rate of Income Tax of 48%, is in the order of €512 million.

Regarding the second question, I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the respective full and first year costs to the Exchequer from exempting income earners below €17,542, €20,000, €22,500, €25,000, €27,500, €30,000 per annum from the Universal Social Charge (USC) are set out in the following table.

These estimates are based on the assumption that taxpayers earning above the revised thresholds continue to pay USC at existing rates and bands.

Regarding the final question, I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the respective first and full year cost to the Exchequer of extending the PAYE tax credit of €1,650, to self-employed income earners who earn up to €50,000 per annum, is estimated to be in the order of €63 million and €146 million.

These figures are estimates for 2015 from the Revenue tax forecasting model using the latest actual data for the year 2012, adjusted as necessary for income, self-employment and employment trends in the interim. They are, therefore, provisional and may be revised. A married couple or civil partners who have elected or have been deemed to have elected for joint assessment are counted as one tax unit. 

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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95. To ask the Minister for Finance the revenue that would be raised for the Exchequer by increasing capital acquisitions tax to 40%. [25268/15]

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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96. To ask the Minister for Finance the revenue that would be raised for the Exchequer by increasing capital acquisitions tax to 40%, and reducing the group thresholds by 10%, 15% and 20%. [25269/15]

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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97. To ask the Minister for Finance the revenue that would be raised for the Exchequer by reducing the group thresholds for capital acquisitions tax by 10%, 15% and 20%. [25270/15]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 95 to 97, inclusive, together.

I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that a wide range of statistical information is available on the Commissioners' new, enhanced Statistics webpage: .

In relation to the Deputy`s questions, detailed information on potential costs can be found in the post-Budget 2015 Ready Reckoner: .

The potential yield from increasing the Capital Acquisitions Tax (CAT) rate from current 33% to 40% would be of the order of €77 million.

The potential yield from decreasing all CAT tax-free thresholds by 10% would be of the order of €19 million, by 15% would be of the order of €28 million and by 20% would be of the order of €38 million.

Increasing the CAT rate from 33% to 40% and decreasing the tax-free thresholds together would have an additional potential yield in addition to those given above, arising from the increased rate being applied to benefits made liable to tax. These increased yields, in addition to the yields indicated above, are €4 million for a 10% decrease in thresholds, €6 million for a 15% decrease and €8 million for a 20% decrease.

All estimates are provisional and subject to revision.  These estimates are based upon an assumption that there would be no behavioural impact from the changes.  In addition, the yields shown from increases in taxation on assets relating to property are subject to movements in the value of such assets.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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98. To ask the Minister for Finance the revenue that would be raised for the Exchequer by increasing the once-off charge for establishing a discretionary trust by 1%, and the annual charge for a trust from 1% to 1.5%. [25271/15]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the estimated full year yield to the Exchequer from the suggested increase in the once-off charge could be in the region of €0.3 million and from the annual charge rate of 1% to 1.5% could be in the region of €0.4 million.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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99. To ask the Minister for Finance the revenue that would be raised for the Exchequer by the introduction of a new 1% wealth tax on net assets in excess of €1 million, excluding qualified provisions such as working farmland, the first 20% of a family home, capital sums in pension funds, and business assets; and applying it to global assets for those domiciled or ordinarily resident in the State and to domestic assets for those resident in the State for tax purposes. [25272/15]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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As I have stated on a number of occasions, wealth can be taxed in a variety of ways, some of which are already in place in Ireland.  Capital Gains Tax (CGT) and Capital Acquisitions Tax (CAT) are, in effect, taxes on wealth, in that they are levied on an individual or company on the disposal of an asset (CGT) or the acquisition of an asset through gift or inheritance (CAT). Deposit Interest Retention Tax (DIRT) is charged at 41%, with limited exemptions, on interest earned on deposit accounts.  Local Property Tax (LPT) introduced in 2013 is a tax based on the market value of residential properties.

In order to estimate the potential revenue from a wealth tax, it would first be necessary to identify the wealth held by individuals.  I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that they currently have no statistical basis for compiling estimates in relation to a potential wealth tax. Although an individual's assets and liabilities are declared to the Revenue in a number of specific circumstances (for example, after a death), this information is not a complete measure of financial assets in the State, nor is it recorded in a manner that would allow analysis of the implications of an overarching wealth based tax.

Comprehensive data on household wealth in Ireland, including assets and liabilities, has been published for the first time by the CSO. Crucially, these data have been collected across the entire eurozone according to a standardised methodology. These data indicate that wealth inequality in Ireland for 2013, as measured by the Gini Coefficient, is lower than the eurozone average. The results also show that wealth is less concentrated at the top of the distribution here than the eurozone average. Central Bank analysis of these data also indicates that while wealth inequality has increased since 2011, it is actually lower than in 2006, the earliest period for which data are available.

The Government has no plans to introduce a wealth tax, although all taxes and potential taxation options are of course constantly reviewed.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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100. To ask the Minister for Finance the revenue that would be raised for the Exchequer by reducing the earnings cap for pension contributions from €115,000 to €70,000. [25274/15]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that, based on data from 2013 returns, the latest available year, reducing the current €115,000 ceiling on annual earnings for determining maximum allowable pension contributions for pension purposes to €70,000 per annum would tentatively yield an estimated €100 million.