Irish pensioners fury over new taxes

Previously "untouchable" state services get cuts

The new report has been revealed only days after the Revenue Commissioners sent letters to 150,000 pensioners warning of extra tax payments because tax authorities were unaware they were receiving state benefits in addition to their private pension.

The move will see some pension incomes cut by up to €8,800 for a couple. Some pensioners deliberately evaded tax, but many more were unaware that they had underpaid taxes until they received the letters. They wrongly believed the State tax system would have notified them of their liabilities.

Then, as anger continued to mount over the letters, pensioner tax controversy descended into farce this week after thousands of retirees were told to pay income tax they do not owe. Revenue officials admitted they will hit 15,000 people who have small occupational pensions with a higher tax bill.

But the tax hit will only be temporary because these people are exempt.  That means the taxman will take the money -- for a while -- and then return it to the pensioners.

The reality for thousands of elderly people now is confusion and a sense of alienation, according to Pensions Ombudsman Paul Kenny.

He said it was “disturbing” that people who were not liable for any extra tax on pension income had received letters about the issue.

Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Enda Kenny has called for clarity to be brought to the matter, and said he accepted that the letters had caused “confusion and anxiety.”

The letters followed the introduction of new computer systems that allowed Revenue officials access to Department of Social Protection files. They examined 560,000 files.

Maximum senior citizen pensions add up to just over €24,000 per couple for a year. Now they have been told that if other pensions push them over €36,000 a year -- almost €700 per week per couple -- they will have to pay tax.

Revenue commissioners expect to bring in extra taxes of €45 million this year with the crackdown on the old.

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Nster.com