Sir, – I refer to the letter of Ms Marelise Spies (July 21st) and recommend that if the lady wants the full tax benefits of married people that all she has to do is get married. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – Marelise Spies highlights the inequities in the Irish tax system with regard to cohabitants. Her application for a student grant was refused because her partner is considered her spouse and therefore his income was taken into account. On the other hand, they are treated as single people for income tax purposes and so cannot claim income tax relief in respect of each other, as married couples can.
Treoir is the national federation of services for unmarried parents and their children. Our main aim is to promote the rights and welfare of unmarried families. Nearly 60 per cent of all births to unmarried parents are to parents living at the same address, clearly showing that cohabitation is on the rise.
Yet these families, though treated in the same way as married couples by the Department of Social Protection, are seriously disadvantaged within the tax system if one of them chooses to be a stay-at-home parent and in relation to inheritance tax.
Some protection for cohabitants, in certain circumstances, has been effected through the passing of the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010, which came into effect in January 2011. A leaflet explaining the new legal rights and obligations for cohabitants contained in this Act can be downloaded from Treoir’s website www.treoir.ie. – Yours, etc,