Ireland’s tax take among the lowest in EU

IRELAND’S tax take is among the lowest in the EU and more on a par with the new member states than the rest of Europe.

But while workers and employers pay less in social welfare, income and corporate tax, they make up for it in high taxes on goods and savings.

The figures published by Eurostat yesterday relate to 2003 and are included in the first detailed analysis of tax trends in all 25 EU countries.