Comments on: Child Benefit – Proposed changes

By: John O'Connor

John O'Connor — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 13:08:16 +0000

Hi Jane,
This is one of the ways in which they could do it – and I thik this is generally what they are generally trying to achieve: make child benefit taxable at your higher rate. so if that pushed you into higher rate, then it would be taxable at the higher rate.
I would say though Jane, that they haven’t given any indication if they will do this at all. It’s very hard to know which way they will swing on this come December and we may not know until Budget day.

By: Jane

Jane — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 10:54:34 +0000

I have a question if taxation of child benefit is introduced does anyone know if it will be added to income and effectively bump anyone just inside the lower tax bracket up to the next one??

By: zdrowe odchudzanie

zdrowe odchudzanie — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 11:25:27 +0000

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By: John

John — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 22:24:41 +0000

Hi Amanda,
You reminded me that childcare allowance was cut. I think child benefit cuts are on the agenda because the reaction was so passive to the childcare allowance. Though given the strength of the reaction here and on places like http://www.childbenefit.info, I don’t think they will tax or means test it in case of a reaction similar to the medical card fiasco.

It’s shocking to think though that you could be taxed out of employment. it shows the effect all the different levies and taxes are having.

The Tax commission said that they did not think that taxes should be raised over all, but the burden redistributed across tax and levy types – but significantly left it open that this is to be done ‘over time’. I reckon that’s an open invitation to sock it to us in the short term – your post is a warning of the possible employment impact of that approach

By: amanda

amanda — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 09:06:42 +0000

Think that the idea of taxing child benefit is disgusting. Many working families have mortgage payments,regular maintenance costs on housing e.g. boiler servicing, general wear and tear, medical bills, childcare costs, travel to work costs etc. Many persons on social welfare can access social housing which comes with free household maintenance i.e. if heating system goes landlord is responsible – same for roofing, re-wiring costs, replacement windows etc, they have medical cards, no childcare costs etc.
Consideration isn’t given to working parents who have huge childcare costs. Already losing early childhood allowance.tax, income levies, medical bills etc, I know cuts have to be made so why don’t they just cut the universal rate to €150 per month per child and increase the qualified child allowance for persons in receipt fo social welfare by the difference extra €4.00 per week per child for persons on welfare. Us taxpayers are paying far too much tax. If I’m taxed anymore, I’ll have no choice but to leave employment as i could’t afford to pay for childcare.

By: John

John — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 22:27:52 +0000

Hi Irish mammy.
Glad to hear there is support on this matter.

I think it’s important that we make this point now so the goverment is sure of the public view before any hard decisions are made.

By: Irish mammy

Irish mammy — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 22:04:07 +0000

Hi there

Interesting post, please join our petition to save child benefit that is our message too, it’s too messy to tax, administratively it will cost too much to means-test it – flat rate cuts will hit the lower income earner so just leave it alone, find the money elsewhere. Families have already taken huge hits with the loss of ECS, increased levies etc.