Fianna Fáil's tax policy

Some of it is a bit silly (tax relief for gym membership) but I was surprised at how pro-taxpayer a lot of it was

• Increase the entry point to the higher rate of income tax to at least €50,000.
• Continue progressive reductions in USC by building on the last two budgets, cutting the lower rate from 3% to 1.5% at a minimum over the lifetime of the Government.
• Abolish the USC surcharge of 3% on non-PAYE income of more than €100,000 a year to support the self-employed in our economy.
• Increase income tax credits annually by at least €100 to reduce the income tax burden on workers, particularly focused on low- and middle-income workers.
• Examine reducing Capital Gains Tax to encourage innovation and productivity and attract foreign investors into Irish indigenous business.
• Annually increase specific and targeted personal tax credits as advanced in Budget 2025 to support families, carers, blind people, dependent relatives, and those with additional needs.
• Widen eligibility for tax credits to provide additional supports to those with caring responsibilities and citizens with additional needs and their families. Examine the possibility of introducing a deaf tax credit for congenital hearing loss.
• Increase and adjust the inheritance tax Category A, B, and C thresholds in each budget to reflect the wider increase in property prices in the Irish economy in recent years.
• Review the inheritance tax thresholds applicable when the deceased does not have children.
• Adjust the means test for entitlements for those with a disability if inheritance is received to ensure we protect baseline social protection and medical supports.
• Introduce a tax credit on gym membership and explore other options to encourage active participation in sport and exercise.

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I think it's finally getting through to politicians that people have had enough of tax and waste, Ireland squeezes the middle income earners once they start earning above 40K only a few short years ago it was above 36K , way out of line with other countries .
It's also at the heart of why they can't get builders to build houses and infrastructure, the tax take is too high and discourages people to take up these jobs. It's the opposite of what was happening during Celtic tiger era when loads of people were attracted into construction because of relatively good wages and lower taxes on those wages, also welfare rates relative to wages were much lower. Maybe the trump vote in America is waking them up , the cost of living stuff and government waste was a big factor in trump vote

Middle income earners with children are net receipts from the exchequer. The problem isn’t how much of our money we pay in taxes. The problem is the amount of that money the State wastes. Reducing waste, better value for money, is what the real issue is. “You take my money and waste it” is what’s makes people angry. “You take slightly less of my money and still waste it” won’t make people feel any better.
That anger is misdirected at immigrants and minorities because they are competing for services but if the waste wasn’t there then there’d be no need to compete as there should be enough for everyone.

So I don’t care about FF or FGs taxation policies. I want to hear about how they are going to take on the institutions of the state to reduce waste and deliver better services. The rest is window dressing.

"Middle income earners with children are net receipts from the exchequer. The problem isn’t how much of our money we pay in taxes. The problem is the amount of that money the State wastes. "

It is a problem because you get that child benefit whether you work or not, therefore there isn't the impetus to work like there was in the Celtic tiger era. If you are a single 20 something worker, Ireland is simply not attractive anymore that's why so many are leaving, that's the big difference between now and Celtic tiger economy.

Dr Strangelove said:

Some of it is a bit silly (tax relief for gym membership) but I was surprised at how pro-taxpayer a lot of it was

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Continued obsession with higher tax credits & lowering USC (but only up €70k)…not a squeak about the 52.1% (soon to be 52.6%) marginal rate on PAYE incomes above €70k.

At what point will the worlds most progressive tax system relax its focus on further lowering the burden, on one of least burdened low to mid income groups in the world!

It’s like they can’t rest until 70% of population are out of the tax net altogether and the entire country is held together by a few multi national corporations and their execs.

Zion2022 said:

Continued obsession with higher tax credits & lowering USC (but only up €70k)…not a squeak about the 52.1% (soon to be 52.6%) marginal rate on PAYE incomes above €70k.

At what point will the worlds most progressive tax system relax its focus on further lowering the burden, on one of least burdened low to mid income groups in the world!

It’s like they can’t rest until 70% of population are out of the tax net altogether and the entire country is held together by a few multi national corporations and their execs.

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And thats with a “right of center” government…