Social Justice Ireland: Tax proposals would benefit higher incomes over lower incomes

Tax proposals currently under consideration by Government should be rejected says Social Justice Ireland.

According to a survey carried out by the Independent body these tax proposals would give far greater benefit to people earning higher incomes than to lower income employees.

Director of Social Justice Ireland Dr Sean Healy said “ “While there should be no net reduction in tax in Budget 2017, a study conducted by Social Justice Ireland, published today, shows that the impact of some proposals currently being considered would be profoundly unfair because they would favour only those with higher incomes.”

“The study shows that changing the income taxation system through the elimination of the first three rates of the USC is an expensive and unfair policy path. From the perspective of fairness, the question arises as to whether such a large amount of annual taxation revenue could be used in a much fairer and better way?”

According to this study, the gains are heavily skewed towards those on the highest incomes.

For example single earners above €70,044 gain €3,145 per annum, more than 4.5 times the gains for a worker on €25,000.

The full study can be accessed here.