Tax revenues/income fell by 18.6% or €983 million on the same period last year. The fall is due to a decrease in income tax. Unemployment has increased and it looks like future taxation will continue to decrease.
Questions 1. What do you think income tax is?
2. Why might income taxation decrease? 3. Does taxation decrease or increase our income? 4. Why do we pay tax? 5. Why does our government charge tax?
Before We Begin …
We are studying taxation from an individual’s point of view. Tax is an expense or an extra cost.
1 Taxation
Taxation is a required payment set by the government and paid by employees, consumers, households and businesses.
This money helps our government run the country. Running a household and running a country are similar. The individual earns an income (salary/wage/pension/Jobseeker’s Allowance) to pay for goods and services which satisfy their needs and wants (see Unit 1).
A government must also earn an income to pay for spending on goods and services which satisfy the needs and wants of the citizens, e.g. roads, schools, hospitals. The government’s income comes mainly from taxation.
Office of the Revenue Commissioner
Tax is collected by Revenue (also known as the Revenue Commissioner or Office of the Revenue Commissioner). www.revenue.ie
Research It! 107 Checklist
You will need: A black or blue pen A calculator