Reduce the tax burden
The country's hard work should be less taxing
The challenge
The tax burden is too high and is a drag on employment, investment and consumer spending. It is making the move from welfare into work less attractive and is making it more difficult to attract much-needed mobile talent to the country. Yes, it was necessary to broaden the tax base and increase some taxes in the austerity budgets, but the tax hikes have gone too far and are restraining recovery in retail and the domestic economy generally.
Tax on work is now completely out of line with our international competitors: Ireland now has the highest marginal income tax rate at average earnings in the OECD.
The government’s pension levy is an inequitable and unjustifiable tax on the savings of private sector workers, which undermines property ownership rights. Consumer taxes are also amongst the highest in the EU and are eroding household spending power.
The solution
- Increase the entry point to the higher marginal tax rate
- Reduce the fully-loaded marginal income tax rate below 50%
- Bring the marginal tax rate for the self-employed back into line with other workers
- Drop the unfair private sector pension levy
- Reverse excessive increases in excise rates
- Reform capital gains tax to support enterprise investment over speculative activity
Read about the other campaign priorities
Better government - Extend Ireland's global reach - Promote enterprise and entrepreneurship - Invest in the futureJoin the conversation
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