Stealth taxes push Irish tax burden higher
21/10/2004 - 08:50:25Ireland's tax burden is increasing at one of the fastest rates in the developed world due to the Government's introduction of a range of "stealth taxes", it was claimed today.
Statistics from the OECD showed the increase in Ireland's tax burden last year was the third-highest of the organisation's 23 member states.
The OECD figures showed the tax burden in the Republic had risen from 28.4% of GDP in 2002 to 30% of GDP in 2003. Only Turkey and Iceland experienced larger increases.
This morning's reports said the tax burden had increased further this year due to the Government's failure to increase tax bands and tax credits in the last budget.
