As usual we listened to the budget to see how it would effect the Irish economy, how it would effect us and what shocks were in store.
As predicted there were elements of ‘giving back‘ many of which were an attempt to ease the burden of water charges, which has all the protesters up in arms and there were a few other little adjustments here and there.
With all of the recent talk about our high rates of tax I was astonished to see a new USC rate of 8% being introduced but the one thing that has totally floored me and had steam coming out my ears is the new 11% USC rate for the Self Employed.
This group of mad entrepreneurs (the crew that AIB are currently labelling as ‘Brave’ in their extensive advertising campaigns) for some reason are worthy of special attention …we have the privilege of the highest tax rate of them all!!
What is the logic behind this, where is this thinking coming from? – we earn money, we pay tax and the more you earn the more tax you pay but for some reason if you are in this unfortunate category you pay even more than others – WHY???
Have we started businesses, do we employ people, do we take risks, do we work hard, do we have little protection if anything goes wrong, do we enjoy benefits that other people have when we retire?
The truth is the risks are more, the protection and benefits are less and this ‘much heralded, heart of the economy group of people‘ must pay more tax than everyone else because …..?
Someone thought this was a good idea, that this group should pay more tax and others nodded their heads and agreed …good idea, let them pay more – is that what you really think we deserve?
I even wonder is this unconstitutional?: Equality before the law “All citizens in Ireland shall be held equal before the law. This means that the State cannot unjustly, unreasonably or arbitrarily discriminate between citizens”
Today I am angry, not because I will end up paying more tax (I am so far away from that income threshold its not funny) but because I work my ass off and instead of being rewarded I feel that I and every other self employed person out there has been discriminated against.
Crazy thinking..
Greg Canty is a partner of Fuzion
Tags: Budget 2015, Fuzion PR, Graphic Design, Greg Canty, Marketing, Self Employed USC 11%
Greg Canty Fuzion Blog 
October 16, 2014 at 1:19 am |
I was really surprise to read about that one too, Greg. It seems a little crazy and pretty unfair. Would love to see the reasoning behind it.
October 17, 2014 at 12:57 am |
Greg. Well said. This angers all of us who get out of bed every morning and have seen our hard efforts to put flesh on the skeleton during the crisis and before knocked once again. No benefits if we fall through the cracks through sheer determination and no support from the agencies who say they are there to help small businesses. How can those who manage our economy be so brain dead.
The old saying that “people (in this case Politicians) dig only where the ground is soft.” is clearly evident.
It’s time for us to “toughen up” and take them on!
October 17, 2014 at 12:24 pm |
Greg I hear you as someone who went the self-employed route after redundancy earlier this year this has me reaching for the smelling salts.
Why is social welfare not being reformed to get the able bodied out working and contributing to society? If we got some of those in the category (I acknowledge there are genuine recipients of social welfare) out earning vs. sponging then there probably wouldn’t be a need to increase the USC to 11%.
Heck I don’t even have a problem paying the bloody USC if I thought those able bodied people would be at least expected to do 10-15 hours a week in community service
I believe the effect of this will be a brain drain of entrepreneurs who are mobile enough to move elsewhere and at least experience a tax system that is more equitable. Maybe if people spent less time in this country protesting water charges (an inevitable charge that no amount of protesting will change) and more time protesting about social welfare reform we might get somewhere.
October 17, 2014 at 3:07 pm |
If I actually got a small wage I would be happy and it is not that I would ever think I would reach this amount but you are right, what do you get for, finding yourself a job, creating more money in this country, some of us employing people, making sacrifices and working hard every day, no such thing as 9-5 or sometimes even a holiday. The AIB advertising ‘BRAVE’ is a joke, my bank fees are crazy and although have tried to meet my manager a few times to see if there is anything we can do, she has not even bothered to return my calls or gone anywhere to meet me on fees. Ya great country we live in, penalize the very people that are keeping the country going, the people that got up of their ass and said I am going to create my own job and support myself. Just as cross as you are, probably would not be though if I had to pay it as if i was earning anywhere near it I would probably not care, but if I was then it was because I worked hard and made sacrifices and took a chance.
October 20, 2014 at 7:55 am |
thanks for all of you comments …it looks like they have stood on a very sore toe – what do we do?? Probably suck it up as always ..
January 20, 2015 at 8:58 am |
Greg,
Great post. I think the permanent Government want you suffer as they do…? What ?
In the public service/civil service there is no encouragement or reward to perform to the best of your ability.
Your remuneration increases regardless of your performance, this must be very hard to stomach for the vast majority who want to do well and in doing so create a healthy work life balance environment.
So the sick and deranged mofos that thought this was a good idea to penalize success and then some on one hand and praise the risk takers for bustin a gut, take all the risk and if they fail let them starve on the other are the real ruling class who have created a fucked up working culture destined to fail and now wish to impart their wisdom on the rest, is it time to leave?
January 21, 2015 at 7:56 pm |
You could be right Damien … or at least it is time to change some of these stupid disincentives . Hope you are well.