Abolition of 'lethal tax' is the quickest way to put money back into people's pockets, say Wexford councillors

Independent councillors from Co Wexford called for abolition of the Universal Social Charge (USC) in Budget 2027. The USC was introduced in 2011 during the financial crisis and applies to people earning €13,000 or more annually, with rates from 2% to 11%. Councillors Mary Farrell, Leonard Kelly, and Michael Sheehan submitted a motion to Wexford County Council that was carried and will be forwarded to local authorities nationwide. The motion links the call to the cost-of-living crisis, arguing workers are overtaxed and receive insufficient government assistance. The USC is described as targeting lower-paid workers disproportionately, especially young people beginning careers, and as a quick way to return money to people’s pockets.

"In recognition of the cost-of-living crisis and that workers are suffering the most and rewarded the least in our economy, and while being overtaxed and not getting any assistance from the government, this council calls for the unwinding and abolition of the Universal Social Charge in Budget 2027,"

"“most effective way of giving something back is to get rid of something”. “Tthe USC is a lethal tax which should have been abolished a long time ago,” he continued. “It targets lower-paid workers disproportionately, in particular young people starting their careers. All the packages that are being announced, none of them are helping the workers, and they are the ones paying the taxes to fund the different benefits being made available."

"“The abolition of the USC is the quickest and most effective way to put money back into people's pockets.”"

Read at Irish Independent