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NEARLY 80% OF people would like to see the Universal Social Charge (USC) abolished altogether, according to a new poll.
The finding comes ahead of next Tuesday’s Budget where the government is expected to announce cuts to the unpopular tax, which was introduced during the financial crisis and raises some €4 billion for the state coffers every year.
A Claire Byrne Live/Amárach Research poll, in conjunction with TheJournal.ie, has found that 78% of people favour the abolition of the charge.
Just 12% favour its retention, while 10% responded that they didn’t know.
Support for abolition is strongest among those aged 25 to 34 where 85% answered Yes to the question: Should universal social charge be abolished altogether?
There is also strong support among other age categories that are affected by the tax with 80% of those aged 55 and over favouring abolition. Nearly a fifth, 18%, of people between the age of 15 and 24 do not favour abolition of the USC.
Support for abolition is strongest in Dublin where 81% favoured scrapping the charge compared to 74% in Connacht and Ulster.
USC, which was introduced as a replacement for the income and health levies in January 2011 after the country was forced into an international bailout, is applied progressively on all income over €12,012.
Having cut the tax last year, the government has pledged that the 7% rate – that applies on income between €17,576 and €70,044 – will be cut again to at least 6% in Budget 2016.
This would, for example, make a person earning €35,000-a-year around €175 better off.
The poll was conducted yesterday by Amárach Research. The survey panel comprises more than 1,000 adults who all own a smartphone. More details here.
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It’s a bloody curse!
The property tax is a curse also. Having a tax simply for owning a property is ludicrous.
FG have undermined the right to private property, don’t pay LPT and they dock your wages, if no wages they take part of the asset when sold, this makes the Government the biggest landlord in the country.
Now FG bring in attachment orders to private property.
Private property is dead.
Al.. Stop beating about the bush. FG lied when their current leader said it would be criminal to tax people for owning their own homes.
Sure we all know what happened there.
You don’t even own it in most cases. .you have a mortgage on it and pay tax on the ownership of it.
Dane…FG are a bunch of thieving pocket stuffing slags.
The OECD wants taxation to be moved from work and placed onto assets, assets like property, water, vehicles, ownership of property and goods… A nightmare scenario really as no one would ever own anything…
Maybe that’s what enticed him to become a member Al Ca.
Only messin Dan!
LPT has its merits without doubt. But giving Tierney such a large chunk of it to pass onto O’Brien amongst others is a killer. They kicked the can down the road with regard to unions and staffing levels.
In other news, 90% of people would like their cake and eat it.
dead right MK, I for one would like the cake I earned and I’d like to eat it. And I’d like to share it. Not be told I have to give a vast majority of it back to government for them to share with their friends.
At the end of it all, it’s all Income Tax by the back door, like it or lump it. Base Income Tax rates are only fictional percentages.
Also jenni…….people who own their own homes are not a drain on the state and don’t need rent allowance, why penalise people who work to be self sufficient, surely it should be encouraged to own your own home and reduce dependency on the state.
I’m just pissed off after all the years working to have someone come and take my private stuff…..FG can go and F*CK themselves.
Dane, you’re cheeks must be sore from sucking. why don’t you give yourself a few days off…maybe read the news or something?
Al, I had a conversation recently with two people, both claiming all variety of benefits. I asked them what would they do if all benefits were to be cut in the next budget..answer by both..I’d have to go out and work full time!! oh I had a shovel full of words in my mouth that I had to swallow, believe me. I want to be able to help those that genuinly need help, but I cant anymore, no one can. Except the homeless, and we all know they cant get anything, which is disgusting. they are the one group that need help.
Jenni, you do realise it’s impossible to have your cake and eat….both physically and metaphorically.
But back to reality though. So where do you think the money is going to come from if scraped? No fan of it, but what’s to replace? Start charging for water maybe?
PS can you also explain what you mean by “vast majority”, as even those on higher bands have an effective tax rate of ~35%, which the last time I checked was not a majority, vast or otherwise.
MK, can you explain your previous ‘quote’ …as I dont believe I said any of that. and as for cake. It was a metaphor. Now me being me and trying to be helpful, I will share the definition of a metaphor” a metaphor is a figure of speech that identifies something as some unrelated thing for rhetorical effect, thus highlighting the similarities between the two”. Let me know if you need rhetorical explained.
MK76…I hope you’re one of the 1,200 that IW have to let go.
Nice Al. Hoping someone would lose their job. Real classy, but I guess you’re just showing the limitations of your capabilities. Not overly surprising.
Ah no keep it I like it, it gives me a nice feeling to see it taken from my wages
What kind of stupid f ucking story is this! Just make up random stories to get clicks there is defo an opportunity for someone to copy the journal but put even the slightest effort into the stories and your onto a winner!
Hi Jenni. You stated you “hand back the vast majority” to the govt. you don’t, so leave the amateur dramatics to those on the stage.
Thanks for explaining a metaphor, but I understood. But maybe you can clear up being able to still have you cake, after eating it…..metaphorically of course
i hate to insult people, but really are you that naive?
and my point was I dont have my cake …after earning it…jeez leweez this is primary school stuff MK you need to go back to summer school
“At the end of it all, it’s all Income Tax by the back door, like it or lump it. Base Income Tax rates are only fictional percentages.”
I don’t see how it’s “by the back door”, it’s a pretty blatant tax with a blatant purpose.
Ha. Just read Al’s comment about private property is dead.
The LLA really are dramatic and moronic in equal measures.
That’s the trouble with this country, anything temporary soon becomes permanent.
10% don’t know. Mother of God.
The same ones who keep walking into doors?
Are those my feet?
Who the hell are the 12%??!
The ones that aren’t working.
the unions.
Ones who are not working or the ones who can’t get work because they live in blackspots of unemployment or as we know it, everywhere outside of Dublin?
raise the taxes by 2 to 3 percent on multinationals,and there you will fine the 4billion you are in need off, but hey why bother, when you can heap it upon the Irish people who managed to save this country.
Or a land tax.
They the government have planned a tax on property that is not being used, this refers to farmers mainly.
“raise the taxes by 2 to 3 percent on multinationals,and there you will fine the 4billion you are in need off, ”
How have you arrived at that figure?
So someone on €35,000 may gain €175 extra a year. Yet the PRSI allowance that Burton cut cost every worker €250 a year.
So can we expect Claire Byrne to be the new Red C from here in?
I’m sure they will promise it’s abolition at the end of term in order to get relented. However they never kept their previous promises so once bitten and all that
Who are the 22% that want to keep it? It’s a tax that was set up to just take more money from us!!
Probably the people who do not pay it.
probably.. I don’t pay too much of it myself because I’m on a low wage as a trainee accountant..I do work full time and it’s the only tax I pay, it may be 30€ a month but in the year that’s 360€ a year which to me is a weeks wages and I definitely don’t see the benefit of it… I’m just paying for a few people to sit on their holes day in and day out!
@trisha When you qualify as an accountant you will pay more than your fair share of taxes. At least you can see that nothing comes easy ad with your hard work and study you will rightly get what you deserve in the end. You have chose to get out and Co tribute to society ad not sit back banging babies out and demanding to be housed in Castleknock. Fair play to you it will be worth it.
Tricia, you only pay USC tax correct? Who pays for your trainee fees?
That being said, who paid for your education?
@smcb Yeah I do, my employer pays for some of it, there is a cap every year and I pay the remainder of the exams fees! I’m not in a big company it’s just a small one with 20 employees, I’m not in a multinational or anything
Well Tricia, you shouldn’t be lamenting about paying for people to sit on the dole should you?
but she’s on a low salary working towards something better. Sure she is a completely different calibre to the wasters who make a living off handouts and free gaffs. Hold your head high Trisha
Trisha, the 22% probably include a lot of people living on the northside of Dublin.
Never said that Garwig, truth is Tricia pays SFA pay to be in a position to lament about paying tax in the first place never mind the fact that the taxpayer subsidied her education to start with.
yes I can be really when I see people the same age as me driving better cars, Wearing nicer clothes and going out and they are living off their benefits. when I’m earning more I’ll pay the taxes (given I’ll complain about how much I’ll be paying) I just think for the lower earners all these 1% or 2% taxes just add up!
Here and now Trisha. Currently you pay SFA tax to be in a position to lament. The taxpayer subsidised your education, your employer is subsidising your fees. You are in no position to be lamenting here and now about all the tax you pay…..
She has to start somewhere and take her chances. Yet getting pregnant and jumping on the housing list wasn’t part of her game plan. Within 3 years she will be paying enough tax to revenue to cover what was invested in her. I have stayed here before that dole should be abolished for those between 18-30 and free education should be provided instead. much more productive and sustainable for society than sitting around mooching and leeching off taxpayers who contribute to society.
Again you are missing the point Gatwick. Tricia is lamenting about all the tax she pays here and now. SFA given the investment that has been made into her education.
*Garwig
“probably.. I don’t pay too much of it myself because I’m on a low wage as a trainee accountant..I do work full time and it’s the only tax I pay, it may be 30€ a month but in the year that’s 360€ a year which to me is a weeks wages and I definitely don’t see the benefit of it… I’m just paying for a few people to sit on their holes day in and day out!”
You are definitely using more than €360 a year worth of public services.
QFT, she has a very nieve view of the world here and now.
But it’s money well spent in her education as it will be paid back in full. as opposed to some scrounger who’s parents were scroungers and who children will be scroungers sitting around thinking they are entitled to everything. The state should provide the basics in my opinion food, shelter warmth and access to education. After that suck a lemon, the dole should be slashed fir those sitting on it long term. I’m all for helping employees that lost their job transition when in difficulty, but career welfare recipients should be hammered.
Again missing the point entirely Garwig. In time one can lament about paying tax, not now when the taxpayer has afforded her and others a subsidised education unlike other countries which require student loans etc before you walk through the door.
This forum was about the USC- which is a stupid tax in my opinion. I think it should be abolished 100% because it was a tax introduced to get the lowest income earners paying tax. I have no problem paying tax when I am earning enough money. I just think the USC should be abolished. I am lucky to have my education subsided and yes I pay hardly any tax- because I am on a little above minumum wage. I would probably be better off financially mooching off the Governement but I am not!
They’ll cut it and they’ll adjust something else to take the money another way, run to the country for an election before we get to see the trick,
They can go and f**k off with themselves so they can.
It should be scrapped for middle earners but kept for top earners (individuals on €100,000 or more per year)
You have an obsession with punishing our most talented workers. Why is that?
100k is not a significant amount of money for a working family. Mortgage, bills, transport to work, medical (no medical cards) childcare etc etc etc. So you want to punish families with strong work ethics who are rearing the next generation of taxpayers. And reward the moochers who are rearing the next generation of leeches. Your having a laugh.
Anyone that believes this government does anything for the good of the people must be mental!
Ask me arse, Hugh.
Should anyone earning €20k or less be paying USC?
Someone on 20k pays 10% in all income taxes. Too much or too little?
That would depend on how you define a living wage and whether such an income would pay for sustainable living.
Of course, the bank will laugh at the mortgage application while a landlord thinks €8k after rent is a decent living.
..I hear ya. But we know the wealthy also pay little. The problem is that the people in the middle get caught for everything. ..so what about them?
If you remove the tax from the bottom, the relief on the burden is more equitable.
Would be folly to give up that much for state coffers. Reduce it, don’t abolish it.
Could be abolished and then welfare and public service spending slashed to make up the difference?
Search you realise that the majority of SW spending is for pensions?Do you see any politician with an interest of remaining in the Dail willing to cut pensions?
Would you support a government that would cut the old age pension or dole? The majority of SW expenditure is made up of that.
And what public services should be cut? Doctors, nurses or maybe teachers or the firebrigade?
Dave Thomas….how about we cut the ECB’s illegal meddling out of the equation, that’ll save us quite a bit of Irish taxpayers money.
..do you realise the pension you are expecting may not be there when you need it, or, if they keep moving the eligible date to collect it, that more & more people won’t live to collect it – in which case the State keeps it. Win-Win for the State, and lose-lose for the taxpayer.
It’s crippling us……..
Put there to keep the status quo of elitism. Gambling and can’t loose .. We muppets as FF/FG/LAB see us, will always ensure elite status remains for a tiny minority. Change to this parasitic system is so needed. Remember when we hit the poll booths.
What’s the growth in the economy this year 4%. 1%= 1 billion in revenue
Usc worth 4 billion . Books balanced and noonan is probably getting 100k €
F…king dick !
It’s a lot of money to give for nothing back etc etc. but what kills me is that we were sold it as a temporary way out of the banking crisis. This is no longer temporary. For once do what you promised politicians and get rid of it!!!!!
Dane your Irelands own Comical Ali, keep up the posts your certainly giving me a chuckle.
How about they use the money they’re pumping into their own pockets and expenses ul soon find a few quick quid there to make up for it… its all well an good with the pre election garbage.. what are they themselves sacrificing? I haven’t heard a peep of that? It’s amazing the headlines im reading, the last 2 weeks esp, they’re forgetting they’re only reading the book, it was wrote long ago, and the people are now dead wide to them. I just really really hope the government gets the overhaul tats needed cause I fear for what’s to come and us goin backwards cause no party or politician really seem to have the answers?!
I’ve paid over €1000 on it this year so far!
Bad news for the Shinners. They want to keep it.
fiana gael labour want to keep water charges property tax and usc sinn fein will get rid of property and water charges
Who are the 18% in favour of keeping it and why?
Although I am in favour of it’s abolition. A co-worker put to me that the country needs money and that it wouldn’t be asked for if it wasn’t needed.
People don’t mind paying higher taxes in a post-recession decade, as it’s understood to be needed. But FF brought in the USC, and Water Charges, then lowered the minimum wage and then proudly trotted out the line when they left that “sure we only put up tax 1%”, then FG came along and in fairness upped the minimum wage by a quid. . . but then added the property tax.
I just hate this misleading nature of it all. Just stick tax up by 2% for a year or two and get rid of all these fool ass charges. Sure people will bitch, but the honesty and overall gain will be worth it.
It’s time the government gave the tax payer something back. I’m sick too death of been bent over a barrel.
bazzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz ??????
The tooth fairy will pay for public services, or we can borrow from Germany….and fairy godmother will look after the water
David….how many times have you been without water up to now?…was it all fairies?
How about we stop destroying/deleting €2 billion a year for the next 40 years at the behest of the ECB….wouldn’t that pay for some services?
In theory yes it would be great if USC was scrapped but Ireland still has a large deficit, poor public services and a huge housing problem… it would be within the public interest for the government to keep USC until these issues can be fixed instead of buying votes by cutting taxes. In saying that I wouldn’t mind a small increase in net pay.
It’s stinks worse then NAMA
Aka: Shock as majority of respondents claim they don’t enjoy paying taxes..
It was suppose to be temporary. What about lowing tax on fuel? a litre of petrol costs approx €1.33 now and about 90 cent of that is tax!!!. Surely this needs to be looked at.
have your say