Children’s Confirmation Money To Be Targeted In Budget

More leaked reports are coming out, ahead of next week’s crucial budget about proposed cuts and taxes coming in 2013.

In an extreme move, Minister Noonan reportedly wants to tax Confirmation and Communion money – and after the recent passing of the children’s referendum, he may just have the legal authority to do so.

The government have spent the last 2 years cracking down on cash based businesses in an effort to prosecute people under-declaring their earnings. Pubs, restaurants, barbers, tradesmen and others working in mainly cash businesses have come under scrutiny from the revenue in recent months.

Now, the government are looking at earnings from communions and confirmations to help fill the deficit. According to reports, the average income from a communion or confirmation is close to €500 – all of which goes largely undeclared. The government are now working on suggestions that would see the income taxed, once above a lower threshold of €250. The tax would be progressive and the more the child earns, the more they’ll be expected to pay.

Crime

Government figures have claimed that many confirmations and communions are at the centre of criminal activity. Investigations in the past have highlighted that criminal gangs use their children’s confirmation as an opportunity to launder large sums of money. This year alone, The Criminal Assets Bureau found that 2 children of drug lords (Who cannot be named as they are minors) reported making over €750,000 from their confirmation.

These and more shocking revelations will be featured on Paul Williams’ Xmas special entitled “Confirmations, Crime and Corruption”. In this 4 part series, Paul Williams will go undercover, posing as a 12 year old boy doing his confirmation, to expose the illegal activities surrounding the religious ceremony.

Legal

With the children’s referendum passed and the state now the ultimate guardian for them, the government may have the legal authority to tax, what is in effect, their own children.

We asked 8 year old Katelyn about this new proposed tax, as she is to make her communion in the new year. Katelyn commented:

“I like tax because you can’t catch me if I’m taxed. And today I ate a crayon.”

So, do you think children should have to contribute to society like the rest of us? And should they be taxed on their earnings from the communions and confirmations? Have your say on our poll:

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