Why was there more protests over water charges than USC?

Ray Palmer · 18-08-2021 10:53am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117770478#Comment_117770478

no

BailMeOut · 18-08-2021 11:23am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117770601#Comment_117770601

I could be wrong but didn't the USC replace both the income levy and the health levy which combined was 6% whereas USC is 4.5% if earning less than 50k. The key difference is everyone pays USC at some rate so its broader and higher earners now pay more. (up to 8%)

RulesOfNature · 18-08-2021 11:59am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117735347#Comment_117735347

The government has literally never repealed back power once given. It will astound you how many laws are 'temporary' measures for emergencies and exceptional times, but wasn't repealed once those circumstances were over. Isn't it insane that income tax can go as high as 50%, essentially you're working for free above a certain rate. Meanwhile a few generations ago there would've been politicians hanging over a 5% income tax. The american war of independence was over a 2% tax on tea. And when income tax was introduced it was a 3% levy. Think about that.

Ray Palmer · 18-08-2021 12:01pm

you are wtong

L1011 · 18-08-2021 12:15pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117770601#Comment_117770601

Yes and no.

USC replaced the Health Levy and Income Levy but was higher than both, originally.

murpho999 · 18-08-2021 12:27pm

Because if you're on social welfare or other support you have to pay water charges but not USC so it impacted more people.

MEGA BRO WOLF 5000 · 18-08-2021 12:39pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117735347#Comment_117735347

Jesus I've been paying USC for years, where do I claim to get it all back?

Bass Reeves · 18-08-2021 2:06pm

Back in the early eighties the original health levy was bought in as well I think there was an income levy of 2ish% it was called something else I think. PRSI was 4.5%. Roll on the mid noughties and Government abolished the all the levies except the health levy on top of the standard PRSI rate. At one stage in the eighties we had 52% tax rate and 8%PRSI and levy rate at the top rate of tax

When the fiscal emergency arrived the government bought in an income levy first and reconfigured it into the USC.

When the next financial crisis/recession comes the government will be in a bind as it has never managed to get the tax rates down. It will have to impose new charges and increase existing charges. The only other taxation possibility is the lower paid. A huge proportion of these are students earning sub 16k who pay no tax. Because low paid workers pay low rates if tax those on hight incomes have to carry the burden

dxhound2005 · 18-08-2021 3:41pm

Water charges is not new either. It was part of Domestic Rates which were abolished in 1978. They continue in the North where some people may not know that water charges are built into their Domestic Rates (Property Tax). In the rest of the UK water charging is separate from Council Tax (Property Tax).

Bins were also part of Rates. Central taxation was supposed to make up the shortfall for local government funding. This sent Income Tax rates up to 60% on average earnings. The Water protests were nothing compared to the massive Tax Marches from the early 1980's. Bin charges had to be introduced to take a bit of the burden off. Water charges will come in at some stage in the future. Whether people are paying massive Property Tax as in the North, or separate Bin charges here, the money will be got one way or another.