The Institute launched its Pre-Budget 2019 Briefing Papers this week. The report highlighted several key facts and figures, including:

• Taxpayers across all salary levels are paying more tax now than a decade ago. The big driver of this increasing level of progressivity between 2012 and 2018 is the USC.
• The International Tax Tables 2018 in association with KPMG demonstrate how as income levels rise, taxpayers in Ireland move quickly up the international tables. Those on earnings of between €45,000 and €75,000 – ranked fourth highest across the eight countries, with a marginal rate of 48.75 per cent kicking in on salaries above €34,550.
• Progressivity examined through another lens called ‘Tax Freedom Day’, where taking the calendar year, the Institute calculated if workers paid their personal taxes to the Exchequer up front, on what date would they meet their tax obligations and then start earning for themselves.
• Possible tax reduction options and revenue raising options for Budget 2019, based on the most recent Tax Strategy Group Papers from the Department of Finance.

The report received extensive media coverage during the week across print, digital, radio and television. Following the launch Tuesday morning Newstalk Breakfast interviewed the Institute about the report, which then made the front page of the Irish Independent; and appeared in headlines on The Irish Times, RTE.ie,TheJournal.ie, the Irish Examiner and many more, before wrapping up the day in an interview on The Last Word on Today FM.

On Wednesday, our International Tax Tables in association with KPMG were reported in detail by the Irish Times on the front page of its Business section, while The Times Ireland Edition, the Irish Independent, and the Irish Examiner continued to analyse our report. Yesterday the Institute appeared on The Tonight Show on Virgin Media One to participate in a debate on Ireland’s personal tax system.

Read the report in full
Read the International Tax Tables 2018 in association with KPMG