18 November 2022
For Immediate Media Release
VAT increase and house levy is an all out attack on low and average income earners
Claiming Our Future strongly opposes the intention by the Government to increase VAT and to introduce a flat €100 house levy which was confirmed today by Minister of Finance, Michael Noonan. Claiming Our Future believes that that such taxes and levies are entirely regressive, will hurt low and average income earners and will further deflate the economy leading to more job losses.
Lower and middle income earners pay a much higher percentage of their income in VAT than higher earners. According to the Economic and Social Review* the lowest 10% pay over 16% of their gross income on VAT. The highest 10% only pay 6% of their gross income in VAT.
According to Siobhan O’Donoghue, a spokesperson with Claiming Our Future, “VAT increases will take even more money out of the pockets of the people who are hanging on by a thread. It will harm spending, hurt businesses and cost jobs. In whose interest is such a decision? It’s not in the interest of people or the economy. We need to stand up now and fight these measures.”
Rory Hearne of Claiming Our Future says, “It beggars belief that a decision like this would be taken when the top 300 wealthiest with a combined wealth of 50 billion are left virtually untouched. Why does our government continue to protect them?”
Siobhan O’Donoghue states, “There are real alternatives and choices to be made in addressing the budget deficit and jobs crisis. The wealthy haven’t been called upon to do enough for the common good of the country. Most wouldn’t mind being asked to pay more in taxes especially when so many of their fellow Irish citizens are suffering.”
Claiming Our Future has launched a nationwide petition calling on the government to enact tax measures for wealthy and high income groups to generate much needed revenue to protect services and to invest in jobs.
Claiming Our Future is a progressive movement of people committed a more equal, inclusive and sustainable Ireland. www.claimingourfuture.ie.
Contacts:
Siobhan O’Donoghue,
Rory Hearne
Bill Abom,
*NOTES ”The Distributional Effects of Value Added Tax in Ireland”, Eimar Leahy, Sean Lyons & Richard S.J. Toll, The Economic and Social Review, Vol. 42, No. 2, Summer 2011.