Income tax revenue €300m lower than target

THE Government collected €300 million less than expected in income tax for the first six months of the year because of the continuing jobs crisis.

Figures released yesterday showed that public finances overall were broadly in line with expectations for the first half of the year, with an Exchequer deficit of€8.9 billion recorded for that period.

While the size of the deficit was anticipated due to pressures on the public purse, it would have been lower if tax targets had been reached. The total tax take to the end of June came to €14.4bn, some €227m behind target.