Call the USC what it is – a tax on income

Sir, – I wonder if an environmental argument should be made to drop the inaccurate term “universal social charge” and simply call it an income tax? If one searches for an explanation of it on the Revenue website, the first line on the matter states that it’s a “tax on your total income”. That seems fairly unambiguous then.

It might seem that no consequences ensue from semantic euphemisms like this, and that it gives grounds for political parties to generate the appearance of disagreeing on something (“Fianna Fáil TDs believe USC cuts are now on the cards”, News, September 12th). Nonetheless it is clear that amounts of civil servants’ time will be allocated to writing about and evaluating policy changes on the issue. That alone uses resources and energy. Paper and ink, including in our daily papers, are allocated to it with the relevant consumption of trees. Tax returns require a separate section for its calculation. This requires an allocation of accountants’ time for which those paying the tax must pay in order to get it assessed. In printing the tax return, further paper and ink are wasted on that section. A quip about politicians producing hot air could be added here.

Given that it is a tax on income, a steeply progressive one indeed, and has long since ceased to be universal, shouldn’t we simply abolish the inaccurate term USC and call it what it is? Then any reduction in it would be a claim of success for both of the large parties of Government, with an environmental benefit that the Greens could claim credit for too. – Yours, etc,

BRIAN O’BRIEN,