SFA director urges Cowen to cut VAT rates in December’s budget

THE Small Firms Association (SFA) has urged Brian Cowen to cut VAT rates in December’s budget.

The association says businesses in Ireland face some of the highest indirect tax rates in Europe and this is hitting the competitiveness of firms.

In its winter economic statement, the SFA said that while Ireland enjoys low rates of personal and corporation tax, we top the European Union league insofar as high rates of indirect taxation are concerned.