MSNBC's Joy Reid proposes that unvaccinated Americans be paid less in the workplace (regardless of what their job is), face higher insurance premiums alongside groups like smokers, and pay higher medical costs if they ever get sick. pic.twitter.com/3DIPbGQjaR
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) January 12, 2022
Gulp.
Pat Kenny must not see this.
Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe (left) with Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Michael McGrath at government buildings this afternoon
This afternoon.
We’re back, baby.
Via RTÉ News:
The Department of Finance has recorded the highest ever tax take of €68.4 billion, pushing the Exchequer deficit down to €7.3 billion.
According to the latest Exchequer figures, tax receipts were up by €11.2 billion (19.7%) on 2020. This was the highest ever tax yield, over €9 billion ahead of the previous highest yield reached in 2019.
Growth was robust across virtually all tax heads, with particularly strong performances in income tax, VAT and corporation tax.
Cumulative income tax receipts of €26.6 billion for the year were up by €3.9 billion (17.4%) on 2020. This reflects the ongoing recovery in the labour market along with growth in wages in the sectors insulated from the pandemic.
Anyone?
Last night.
Dublin city centre.
Activists Charlie Kiehne (19) and Samuel Bosch (18) hung a banner outside a store selling Apple products in protest against Apple’s tax practices.
Pic: Charlie Kiehne and Samuel Bosch
From top: Pandemic Unemployment Payment form; Catherine Murphy
Yesterday.
Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy , in a written question, asked the Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe to reveal what orders he has given to the Revenue Commissioners regarding tax liabilities for recipients of the wage subsidy scheme and the Pandemic Unemployment Payment PUP) .
The Minister for Finance responded:
On 25 September in a public announcement Revenue set out how any tax liability arising on the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS) and the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) will be dealt with.
Revenue officials sent a copy of its press release to my Department for information prior to publication. There was no instruction from me or my officials to Revenue in relation to this matter.
While the expected tax liability should be modest in most cases, the position as set out by Revenue is very welcome and is a further demonstration of how we will continue to work to minimise financial hardship to the greatest extent possible on taxpayers challenged by COVID-19.
While most income is liable to income tax and the Universal Social Charge (USC) and is deducted in real-time as and when the person is paid, the TWSS and PUP payments were not taxed in real-time and are instead liable to income tax and USC at the end of this year.
Revenue will make a Preliminary End of Year Statement available to all employees in January 2021, including those who were in receipt of the TWSS or PUP. The Preliminary End of Year Statement includes information relating to an employee’s income received, including pensions and income from the Department of Social Protection, Community and Rural Development, and the Islands, as well as their tax credit entitlements.
For the tax year 2020, the Statement will also include information on the amounts of TWSS/PUP payments, if any, received by each employee. In addition, the Statement will provide employees with a preliminary calculation of the income tax and USC position for 2020 and will indicate whether their tax position is balanced, underpaid or overpaid for the year.
Upon viewing the Preliminary End of Year Statement through myAccount, which is Revenue’s secure online facility for individual taxpayer services, employees will have an opportunity to update their personal record, declare any additional income and claim any additional tax credits due, for example qualifying health expenses, to arrive at their final liability for 2020.
Where a liability is finalised, individuals may opt to fully or partially pay any income tax and USC liability through the Payments/Repayments facility in myAccount. Where individuals do not opt to fully or partially pay, Revenue will collect the liability by reducing their tax credits over 4 years, interest free. The reduction of tax credits will start in January 2022.
Anyone?
Previously: Liable To Income Tax And PRSI
While expected tax liability should be modest in most cases for recipients of TWSS & PUP, today’s decision welcome nonetheless. We will continue to work to minimise financial hardship, to the greatest extent possible, on taxpayers challenged by #COVID19 https://t.co/Hn4tOmbqoJ pic.twitter.com/HSypO7iXjY
— Paschal Donohoe (@Paschald) September 25, 2020
This afternoon.
The Department of the Taoiseach, Merrion Street, Dublin 2.
Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe TD provided an update on the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme, and announced details of the taxation of amounts received by employees under the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme and Pandemic Unemployment Payment.
Meanwhile…
what is the Legal basis for Revenue to tax PUP paid prior to 1 August 2020 ? given that Prior to that date, PUP was paid under S202 of the SWCA 2005 as an ‘Urgent Needs Payment’. Urgent payment are not libel for tax…
— mangles🤪 (@bamboozled19) September 25, 2020
Anyone?
PUP/TWSS recipients to discover tax liabilities in January – Revenue (RTÉ)
Apple CEO Tim Cook with former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar at an event last year in Dublin celebrating Apple’s 40 years in Ireland
This morning.
Via RTÉ:
Apple and Ireland have won their appeal against the European Commission’s €13.1bn tax ruling.
The General Court of the European Union (GCEU) has annulled the decision taken by the Commission regarding the Irish tax rulings in favour of Apple.
According to the GCEU, the Commission was wrong to declare that Apple Sales International and Apple Operations Europe had been granted a selective economic advantage and, by extension, State aid.
It says the Commission failed to show “to the requisite legal standard” that Apple enjoyed preferential treatment which amounted to illegal State aid.
The government’s COVID-19 Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme payment is taxable, warns financial planner Eoin McGee
This morning.
On RTÉ’s Today with Seán O’Rourke.
Financial planner and author of How To Be Good With Money Eoin McGee warned listeners who are signed up to the COVID-19 Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme that the payment is taxable and that they may face a tax bill at the end of the year.
Mr McGee’s contribution to the radio show followed Mr McGee posting a video about the same on social media.
This morning, he told Mr O’Rourke:
“People do need to be aware that there is tax due on this. This is not a tax-free payment. There is tax due on it. Nobody is collecting on your behalf right now and what I would say to people now is that the right thing to do here is to take, about 30 per cent of it is a reasonable number.
“So for every €100 you’re getting, put €30 of it aside, put it in a little war chest if you want to call it, so that if the taxman comes looking for it you can give it back in one go. That’s the ideal thing to do here.”
“…I think, you know the problem is Seán, I think that the reality here is that if you’re employer is signed up to this, they’re trying to protect your long-term future in that business and they have concerns and they are being diligent about making sure that they can keep the show on the road.
“The reality is that the alternative for your employer could have been that you didn’t have a job at all and, I just, there are people in that position as well, and they will probably sign up to holding back 30 per cent.
“I know this is hard, I know people are getting a real cut in their wages but what you don’t want to do is rob from the future to look after today. You don’t want a problem. You don’t want to get out of this and then have another problem faced with to try and pay the money back.”
During his discussion with host Seán O’Rourke, Mr O’Rourke read out a statement from Revenue which stated:
“Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme payments are liable to income tax, USC and PRSI. However, the subsidy is not taxable in real time through the PAYE system during the period of the subsidy scheme. Instead, the employee will be liable for tax on the subsidy amount paid to them by their employer by way of a review at the end of the year.
“Where a PAYE worker owes tax, it’s normal Revenue practice to collect any tax owing in manageable amounts by reducing tax credits for a future year or years in order to minimise any hardship.”
Mr McGee added:
“People don’t realise if your tax credits get adjusted next year, you are going to pay more tax next year because of the tax you didn’t pay this year. Take a proactive approach and put the money to one side if you can at all possibly do that.”
Meanwhile…
The €350 pandemic payment is taxable too… same situation you could end up paying tax in either scenario depending on how your year goes in total
— Eoin McGee CFP© (@EoinMcGee) April 7, 2020
Listen back in full here
This morning.
Fianna Fáil General Election HQ, Dublin.
Fianna Fáil spokesperson on Finance Michael McGrath TD (centre), Barry Cowen (right), spokesperson on Public Expenditure and Dublin City Councillor Deirdre Heney (left) at a press briefing on the party’s personal taxation proposals.
To wit:
The party is planning to reduce the 4.5% Universal Social Charge rate to 3.5%.
It is proposing to increase the standard rate of income tax band by €3,000 for an individual, and €6,000 for a couple.
Fianna Fáil’s Michael McGrath said his party would also increase the so-called rainy day fund from €500,000 to €750,000 per year – bringing the fund to €5.2bn by 2025.
Tax cuts and increased spending.
Apart from bitter experience, why the hell not?
From top: Pals Michael O’Sullivan and Mattie Murphy outside Lilliput Stores, Stoneybatter, Dublin 7; Mattie outside Lilliput
Shortly before Christmas in 2017, friends for almost 30 years Mattie Murphy and Michael O’Sullivan got married.
Mattie married Michael in order to allow his friend avoid paying inheritance tax on his home in Stoneybatter, Dublin 7.
This morning, Mattie passed away.
Pride of Place Stoneybatter writes:
“This morning after 4am, Stoneybatter lost a true legend, Mattie Murphy.
“As news trickled across the streets of Stoneybatter and beyond, everyone is remembering Mattie, his beautiful smile, kind soul, his infectious laugh and his great style.
“A proud Tipperary man with his heart in Tipp and in Stoneybatter, Mattie died peacefully with his best friend, Michael, by his side. Mattie, a ‘former butler, valet, head of house, telephonist, model, actor, husband, stepfather and utter gentleman.’
“Chats were always welcomed at Lilliput Stores with Mattie having a cuppa and a cig outside and hearty laughs were guaranteed with the storytelling and sharing of anecdotes.
“Mattie had time for anyone that stopped by and along his walks across Stoneybatter including many a furry friend as he loved dogs.
“A great supporter of the Stoneybatter community and attended local events right up to Christmas just gone.
“Mattie loved Stoneybatter Festival and President Michael D was thrilled to meet Mattie at the 2018 Festival.
“At the 2019 Festival, Mattie with his best friend, Michael, featured in local Andrew Kohn’s highly acclaimed Humans of Stoneybatter.”
“Mattie will be reposing at his home 45 Niall Street this Wednesday from approx 1pm and Thursday morning ’til late for all to say their goodbyes and there will be stories and laughter for sure.
“Mattie’s funeral will be taking place Friday at St. John’s Church of Ireland Cathedral in Cashel, Co. Tipperary at 3pm.
“Michael has asked that donations be made to the NCBI in lieu of flowers.
“Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.”
RIP.
Village Magazine tweetz:
“Here is the illustration by Faye Larkin for Master of the High Court Edmund Honohan’s interesting analysis of Apple’s tax arrangements with Ireland. Read the piece on our website.”
Previously: Edmund Honohan on Broadsheet
