Cori seeks tax-credit refund for 'working poor'

The Justice Commission of the Conference of Religious in Ireland (Cori) is today expected to call for a fairer tax system.

The Justice Commission of the Conference of Religious in Ireland (Cori) is today expected to call for a fairer tax system.

In its latest policy paper on the taxation system Cori is expected to say that the three major social justice issues facing the Government - child poverty, childcare and the working poor - could be tackled "without increases in income tax or corporation tax rates".

A growing proportion of households experiencing poverty are headed by people in employment. These are the "working poor".

Cori will say that by making all tax credits refundable, the resources would be handed to the people that needed them and the child poverty, child care and working poor issues would be addressed.

READ MORE

Making tax credits refundable would mean changing the taxation system so that people who do not pay tax because their income is too low or because they are dependent on social welfare benefits would be entitled to a payment of the credit value that they would have been entitled to if they were paying tax.