| Income Tax in ireland is deducted at source for all salaried and
waged employees.There is also self assessment for self employed
but both suffer the same rates of tax.Rates of 35%,48% and 56% apply
on thresholds much narrower than the British system.
Example a single person on 10,000 p.a will be on 56% tax,double
allowance for one income marrieds.ALSO 7.5% P.R.S.I is deducted
from ALL income with NO allowances up to 18k. p.a and 2% thereafter
These deductions make overtime etc. a joke because two third of
your o/t premiums vanish to the tax-man.
Digital and similar industries are not the norm in Ireland where
most of the workers are in low/medium paid employment in the service
and agricultural sector,there also exists a high level of evasion
which is being clamped down on very forcibly at the moment.
These factors plus the high rate of unemployment means there is
a stoic, if reluctant acceptance of these punitive rates of tax.
If you counter-balance this with relatively uncluttered roads outside
Dublin,low property costs and a more relaxed lifestyle then Ireland
isn't half bad,but it's not the place to make REAL money.......
From what I read in the papers a lot of computer work involves state
or semi-state bodies who require tax clearance certificates for
all tenders submitted ,they also report ALL payments to the taxman.
ALL professional services are subject to a retention tax of 35%
regardless of allownces expenses etc, refunds are then made when
you submit a tax return and satisfy the Taxman about your accounts.
Cars,electronics,drink,entertainment,petrol,are taxed heavily as
luxuries,dearer than Britain,clothes can be cheaper,accomodation
outside Dublin much much cheaper and no problem getting close to
work.Roads not so good but improving all the time.
Must sign off now,
John Dooley, Digital,Ballybrit,Galway
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| Thanks for the information John.
I can see a man would need to be committed to the quality of life (eg. decent
pints of natural), rather than big punts, if one was to live in Ireland.
Can you advise, does the stoicism come gradually, or in a mighty burst ?
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| Depends,for self employed every April and October for others every
month/week,on payday ;).
Seriously though Ireland has a lot to offer in the line of good
Golf (I dont play but those who do say its cheaper and better than
most places),good schools for the kids, good pubs and less hassle
than U.K. To really enjoy Ireland stay outside Dublin (the Dubs
wiil slate me for this) but living conditions there are much the
same as U.K but with high Tax,the worst of both worlds.
The people by and large are very friendly but there is a large element
of vandalism/theft which makes life very unpredictable and calls
for more security than I care to live with.ie. having to double
lock your front door and set the alarm on your car is more hassle
than I need on top of worrying about it whenI am absent.
In short the level of crime in the rural areas of Ireland is much
lower than Dublin.The ideal would be to live on the fringe,ie 20
mi.from the city centre and commute .this may take some time but
is worth it for the peace of mind it affords .
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