Whitaker Institute members Prof Emer Mulligan and Dr Margaret O’Neill have written a new article for RTÉ Brainstorm. The article looks at the most common queries that came up in Ireland’s first free tax clinic.
Analysis: from credits and allowances to the PUP, a clinic for Galway students saw a number of common queries emerging around tax
By Emer Mulligan and Margaret O’Neill, NUI Galway
More than half of Irish workers are unsure about their tax obligations and may be missing out on entitlements. This is not surprising, as tax rules can be complicated and confusing, yet paying our taxes is a legal requirement. Maybe it’s asking too much to expect all citizens to understand the tax system as it applies to them, and to ensure they pay the right amount of tax at the right time?
Ireland’s first free Tax Clinic was set up in NUI Galway to provide assistance and information to students in the first instance on issues around personal taxation and give them the lifelong skills to handle their own tax affairs. Covid-19 public health advice meant the clinic was fully online. Individual consultations were provided by volunteers under the supervision of professional tax advisors. Following a very successful rollout of the clinic, plans are underway to extend the service to marginalised citizens, in collaboration with community groups in the Galway region. Continue reading…
