[Oireachtas] Dail Eireann debate. Written answers 154-155 - Tax code [54085/12 & 54086/12]. (04 Dec 2012)
External website: http://oireachtasdebates.oireachtas.ie/debates%20a...
154. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the revenue that would be raised for the Exchequer by introducing a levy of 10% on alcohol sales in off licences. [54085/12]
Minister for Finance (Deputy Michael Noonan): I understand from the Revenue Commissioners that EU Directive 92/ 83 - EEC, which governs the structure of alcohol taxation, does not provide for different tax treatment of alcohol products depending on where the product is sold. Therefore, it does not allow for the introduction of such a levy.
155. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the revenue that would be raised for the Exchequer if the practice of below cost selling of alcohol was outlawed, a practice which sees VAT lost to the State. [54086/12]
Minister for Finance (Deputy Michael Noonan): With regard to the VAT treatment of below cost selling, VAT is a tax on the value added to a supply, and the collection and recovery of VAT takes place at each stage of the chain of supply from manufacturing to retailer. Under EU and domestic VAT rules traders who are registered for VAT collect VAT on the goods and services that they sell. In turn such traders are entitled to recover the VAT they incur on their business inputs used in the purchase or production of goods or delivery of services. Consequently, if there is a decrease in value at any stage in the process the trader is entitled to a refund of the excess of VAT incurred over that collected. In this case, where a retailer is in a situation of net VAT gain as a result of below cost selling, this is not a loss to the Exchequer or an additional benefit to the retailer, it is merely how VAT is charged.
As regards calculating the VAT impact of below cost sales of alcohol, separate figures are not available for input VAT on goods that were subsequently sold at a discount as traders’ VAT returns show only the total input VAT and the total output VAT for the period covered by the return.
Dáil Éireann Debate Vol. 785 No. 1
Tuesday 4 December
Item Type
Dail Debates
Publication Type
Irish-related
Drug Type
Alcohol
Intervention Type
Policy
Source
Date
4 December 2012
EndNote
Subjects
B Substances > Alcohol
L Social psychology and related concepts > Physical context, location or place > Alcohol beverage sales outlet (shop / pub / bar)
MP-MR Policy, planning, economics, work and social services > Economic policy
MP-MR Policy, planning, economics, work and social services > Economic aspects of substance use (cost / pricing)
VA Geographic area > Europe > Ireland
L Social psychology and related concepts > Physical context, location or place > Alcohol beverage sales outlet (shop / pub / bar)
MP-MR Policy, planning, economics, work and social services > Economic policy
MP-MR Policy, planning, economics, work and social services > Economic aspects of substance use (cost / pricing)
VA Geographic area > Europe > Ireland
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