I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that figures for the numbers of income earners availing of the tax credits mentioned by the Deputy are set out in the following table to the extent to which they are available. The numbers given in this table for the years 2003 onwards are provisional and are subject to revision. The figures for the number of tax credits for widowed persons in the year of bereavement and aged persons will be available shortly for 2003 when ongoing processing work is complete.
The figures in the table relate to the numbers of income earners in a position to absorb each tax credit either partly or fully, but do not include the numbers of qualifying claimants who, because of the operation of other deductions and reliefs, have their taxable income reduced to nil or have their tax liability reduced to nil by the impact of other tax credits. Claimants for the age credit, whose tax liability has been reduced to nil by the operation of the personal or employee credits or both together, will not be included in the numbers shown for the age credit. The figures for numbers of income earners have been rounded to the nearest 50. It should be noted that a married couple who has elected or has been deemed to have elected for joint assessment is counted as one tax unit.
Number of income earners availing of certain tax credits
Year
|
2002
|
2003
|
2004
|
2005
|
Tax credit
|
Numbers
|
Numbers
|
Numbers
|
Numbers
|
Single Persons
|
1,169,600
|
1,213,600
|
1,257,900
|
1,282,200
|
Married Persons
|
629,400
|
623,300
|
637,500
|
654,300
|
Widowed Person
|
72,950
|
73,700
|
74,950
|
76,000
|
One parent family
|
102,700
|
104,700
|
107,900
|
110,150
|
Home carer
|
100,850
|
104,200
|
104,000
|
104,100
|
Employee (PAYE)
|
1,257,800
|
1,309,350
|
1,378,150
|
1,413,200
|
Widowed person in year of bereavement
|
4,000
|
Not available
|
Not available
|
Not available
|
Age (single)
|
14,000
|
Not available
|
Not available
|
Not available
|
Age (widowed)
|
22,200
|
Not available
|
Not available
|
Not available
|
Age (married)
|
31,900
|
Not available
|
Not available
|
Not available
|