Finance (No. 2) Act, 1981
In short
This law, the Finance (No. 2) Act, 1981, primarily focuses on adjusting various taxes and duties related to customs, excise, and value-added tax, as well as introducing new stamp duties. It aims to modify financial regulations and impose charges on specific goods and services.
What it regulates
- Customs and excise duties on goods like beer, spirits, tobacco products, wine, made wine, and hydrocarbons.
- Excise duties on motor vehicles and their rates.
- Value-Added Tax (VAT) through amendments to existing sections of the Principal Act.
- Stamp duties, including a levy on banks and duties on credit and charge cards.
Who it concerns
- Businesses and individuals involved in the production, import, or sale of alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, and hydrocarbon oils.
- Owners of motor vehicles.
- Banks and users of credit and charge cards.
Key points
- The excise duty on beer is set at £119.647 for every 36 gallons of worts of a specific gravity of 1,055 degrees, effective from July 22, 1981.
- Excise duties on spirits and tobacco products are charged at new rates specified in the First and Second Schedules, respectively, from July 22, 1981.
- Excise duty on mineral hydrocarbon light oil is £17.32 per hectolitre, and on hydrocarbon oil is £11.67 per hectolitre, from July 22, 1981.
- The excise duty on category A motor vehicles is 50 percent of the chargeable value, effective from July 22, 1981.
Legal text
Finance (No. 2) Act, 1981 Skip to content Disclaimer Feedback Helpdesk Gaeilge Léim go dtí an t-ábhar Séanadh Aiseolas Deasc chabhrach English Gaeilge English Produced by the Office of the Attorney General Táirgthe ag Oifig an Ard-Aighne Home Legislation Acts of the Oireachtas Statutory Instruments Pre-1922 Legislation Constitution External Resources Bills (Houses of the Oireachtas) Iris Oifigiúil / Official Gazette Revised Acts (LRC) Classified List of Legislation (LRC) Translations (acts.
- ie)Translations (Houses of the Oireachtas) Government Publications for Sale EU Law (EUR-Lex) FAQ Disclaimer Feedback Helpdesk Search Baile Reachtaíocht Achtanna an Oireachtais Ionstraimí Reachtúla Reachtaíocht Réamh-1922 Bunreacht Acmhainní Seachtracha Billí (Tithe an Oireachtais) Iris Oifigiúil Achtanna Athbhreithnithe (CAD) (An Coimisiún um Athchóiriú an Dlí) Liosta Rangaithe Reachtaíochta Aistriúcháin (achtanna.
- ie)Aistriúcháin (Tithe an Oireachtais) Foilseacháin Rialtais ar Díol Dlí AE (EUR-Lex) CCanna (Ceisteanna Coitianta) Séanadh Aiseolas Deasc chabhrach Cuardach TitleTeideal Year(
- s)or rangeBliain nó blianta nó raon TypeCineál All Legislation Acts Statutory Instruments Advanced SearchCuardach Casta HomeBaile ActsAchtanna 1981 Finance (No. 2) Act, 1981 Finance (No. 2) Act, 1981 Permanent Page URL View by SectionAmharc de réir Ailt View Full ActAmharc ar an Acht Iomlán Bill History Stair Bille Commencement, Amendments, SIs made under the Act Tosach Feidhme, Leasuithe, IRí arna ndéanamh faoin Acht Print Full ActPriontáil an tAcht Iomlán Number 28 of 1981 FINANCE (NO. 2) ACT, 1981 ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS PART I Customs and Excise Section 1. Definitions (Part I). 2. Beer. 3. Spirits. 4. Tobacco products. 5. Wine and made wine. 6. Hydrocarbons. 7. Motor vehicles. 8. Rates of vehicle excise duties. 9. Revocation of Order. PART II Value-Added Tax 10. Definitions (Part II). 11. Amendment of section 8 of Principal Act. 12. Amendment of section 11 of Principal Act. 13. Amendment of section 12A of Principal Act. 14. Relief for hotels, etc. 15. Transitional provisions. PART III Stamp Duties 16. Levy on banks. 17. Stamp duty in respect of credit cards and charge cards. PART IV Miscellaneous 18. Application of section 54 of Finance Act, 1970. 19. Care and management of taxes and duties. 20. Short title and construction. FIRST SCHEDULE Rates of Excise Duty on Spirits SECOND SCHEDULE Rates of Excise Duty on Tobacco Products THIRD SCHEDULE Part I Rates of Excise Duty on Wine Part II Rates of Excise Duty on Made Wine Acts Referred to Central Bank Act, 1971 1971, No. 24 Finance (Excise Duties) (Vehicles) Act, 1952 1952, No. 24 Finance Act, 1970 1970, No. 14 Finance Act, 1973 1973, No. 19 Finance Act, 1976 1976, No. 16 Finance (Excise Duty on Tobacco Products) Act, 1977 1977, No. 32 Finance Act, 1980 1980, No. 14 Finance Act, 1981 1981, No. 16 Road Traffic Act, 1961 1961, No. 24 Stamp Act, 1891 1891, c. 39 Succession Duty Act, 1853 1853, c. 51 Value-Added Tax Act, 1972 1972, No. 22 Value-Added Tax (Amendment) Act, 1978 1978, No. 34 Number 28 of 1981 FINANCE (NO. 2) ACT, 1981 AN ACT TO CHARGE AND IMPOSE CERTAIN DUTIES OF CUSTOMS AND INLAND REVENUE (INCLUDING EXCISE), TO AMEND THE LAW RELATING TO CUSTOMS AND INLAND REVENUE (INCLUDING EXCISE) AND TO MAKE FURTHER PROVISIONS IN CONNECTION WITH FINANCE. [20th November, 1981] BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS: PART I Customs and Excise Definitions ( Part I ). 1.—In this Part— “the Act of 1981” means the Finance Act, 1981 ; “the Order of 1975” means the Imposition of Duties (No. 221) (Excise Duties) Order, 1975 (S.I. No. 307 of 1975). Beer. 2.—
- a)a vehicle specified in paragraph 1 of Part I of the Schedule to the Act, or (
- b)a vehicle specified in paragraph 6 (
- d)of Part I of the Schedule to the Act which does not exceed 16 horse-power (calculated in accordance with regulations made by the Minister for the Environment under section 1
- i)a vehicle which is used as a hearse and for no other purpose, (
- ii)a vehicle specified in Article 3 of the Imposition of Duties (No. 170) (Excise Duties) (Vehicles) Order, 1968, (S.I. No. 68 of 1968), as amended by the Imposition of Duties (No. 216) (Excise Duties) (Vehicles) Order, 1975 (No. 5 of 1975), or (iii) a vehicle specified in Article 3 of the Imposition of Duties (No. 229) (Excise Duties) (Vehicles) Order, 1977 (No. 112 of 1977).
- a)£1 in relation to a specified vehicle (which expression has in this section the same meaning that it has in section 8 of the Finance (No. 2) Act, 1981) in respect of which the said duty imposed by the said section 1 is payable at a rate specified in paragraph 1 of Part I of the Schedule to the said Act; (
- aa)£5 in relation to any other specified vehicle (not being a vehicle in respect of which the said duty imposed by the said section is not chargeable or leviable or a vehicle to which paragraph (
- b)of this subsection applies);”.
- a)Subject to paragraphs (
- b)and (
- c)of this subsection, the Act shall, as respects licences under section 1 of the Act for periods beginning on or after the 1st day of September, 1981, be amended by the substitution in Part I of the Schedule thereto (as amended by section 79
- d)of paragraph 6: “(
- d)other vehicles to which this paragraph applies— not exceeding 8 horse-power £4 for each unit or part of a unit of horse-power exceeding 8 horse-power and not exceeding 12 horse-power £5 for each unit or part of a unit of horse-power exceeding 12 horse-power and not exceeding 16 horse-power £6 for each unit or part of a unit of horse-power exceeding 16 horse-power £8 for each unit or part of a unit of horse-power electrically propelled £22”. (
- b)Paragraph (
- a)of this subsection shall not have effect in relation to any vehicle— (
- i)which is used as a small public service vehicle within the meaning of the Road Traffic Act, 1961 , and for no other purpose, (
- ii)which is fitted with a taximeter and is lawfully used as a street service vehicle within the meaning of the said Road Traffic Act, 1961 , or for purposes incidental to such user and for no other purpose, or (iii) which is used as a hearse and for no other purpose. (
- c)Paragraph (
- a)of this subsection shall not have effect in relation to vehicles specified in Article 3 of the Imposition of Duties (No. 170) (Excise Duties) (Vehicles) Order, 1968, as amended by the Imposition of Duties (No. 216) (Excise Duties) (Vehicles) Order, 1975.
- i)by the substitution in paragraph (
- b)of the following subparagraph for subparagraph (iii): “(iii) supplies of goods and services, other than those referred to in subparagraphs (
- i)and (ii), the total consideration for which has not exceeded and is not likely to exceed £15,000 in any continuous period of 12 months,”, (
- ii)by the substitution of the following paragraph for paragraph (c): “(
- c)(
- i)subject to subparagraph (ii), a person for whose supply of taxable goods and services the total consideration has not exceeded and is not likely to exceed £30,000 in any continuous period of 12 months, (
- ii)subparagraph (
- i)shall apply if, but only if, not less than 90 per cent. of the total consideration referred to therein is derived from the supply of taxable goods,”, (iii) by the deletion of paragraph (d), and (
- iv)by the substitution of the following paragraph for paragraph (e): “(
- e)a person, other than a person to whom paragraph (a), (
- b)or (
- c)applies, for whose supply of taxable goods and services the total consideration has not exceeded and is not likely to exceed £15,000 in any continuous period of 12 months.”, (
- b)by the substitution of the following subsection for subsection
- a)of the following subparagraph for subparagraph (ii): “(
- ii)has fallen below and remains permanently below such amount as may be appropriate in the particular case having regard to paragraph (
- c)or (
- e)of subsection
- b)each such person may be made jointly and severally liable to comply with all the provisions of this Act and regulations (including the provisions requiring the payment of tax) that apply to those persons and subject to the penalties under this Act to which they would be subject if each such person was liable to pay to the Revenue Commissioners the whole of the tax chargeable, apart from regulations under this subsection, in respect of all such persons: Provided that this subsection shall not apply to business activities consisting of the supply of immovable goods by any such person to any other such person and, where a request is made by such persons pursuant to regulations under this subsection, such business activities shall be treated for the purposes of this Act, as if the request had not been made.”, and (
- e)in subsection
- d)in the definition of “farmer”: “(
- d)supplies of goods and services, other than those referred to in paragraphs (a), (
- b)and (c), the total consideration for which has not exceeded and is not likely to exceed £15,000 in any continuous period of 12 months.”. Amendment of section 11 of Principal Act. 12.—
- a)of “15 per cent.” for “10 per cent.”, (
- b)in subsection
- b)of “20 per cent.” for “30 per cent.”, and (
- c)by the insertion after the said paragraph (
- b)of the following paragraph: “(
- c)On the supply of agricultural services consisting of— (
- i)field work, reaping, mowing, threshing, baling, harvesting, sowing and planting; (
- ii)disinfecting and ensilage of agricultural products; (iii) destruction of weeds and pests and dusting and spraying of crops and land; (
- iv)lopping, tree felling and similar forestry services, and (
- v)land drainage and reclamation, tax shall be chargeable at the rate specified in subsection
- a)in the case of an associated bank, the amount obtained by deducting the aggregate of the sums shown in the returns of that bank in respect of Item 7 in Appendix II of the returns as an adjustment of current accounts for cheques in transit from the aggregate of the sums shown in the returns in respect of current accounts and deposit accounts by whomsoever held at offices in the State of the bank and shown as liabilities of the bank in such returns; (
- b)in the case of any other bank, the amount obtained by deducting the aggregate of the sums shown in the analysis of selected liabilities in the returns of that bank as due to banks (including banks that are not banks within the meaning of subsection
- a)In this subsection— “account” means an account maintained by a bank to which amounts in respect of goods, services or cash obtained by an individual by means of a credit card are charged; “credit card” means a card issued by a bank to an individual having an address in the State by means of which goods, services and cash may be obtained by the individual and amounts in respect of the goods, services and cash may be charged to the account. (
- b)A bank shall, in each year (being the year 1982 or a subsequent year), within three months of the 1st day of April in that year, deliver to the Revenue Commissioners a statement in writing showing the number of accounts maintained by the bank on that 1st day of April. (
- c)There shall be charged on every statement delivered in pursuance of paragraph (
- b)of this subsection a stamp duty at the rate of £5 in respect of each account included in the number of accounts shown in the statement.
- a)In this subsection— “account” means an account maintained by a promoter to which amounts in respect of goods, services or cash obtained by an individual by means of a charge card are charged; “charge card” means a card (other than a card known as “an in-house card”) issued by a person (in this section referred to as “a promoter”) to an individual having an address in the State by means of which goods, services or cash may be obtained by the individual and amounts in respect of the goods, services or cash may be charged to the account; “company charge card” means— (
- i)a charge card issued by a promoter to a person (other than an individual) having an address in the State which, if it were issued to an individual, would be regarded as a charge card, or (
- ii)a charge card issued by a promoter to an employee, nominee or agent of such a person in his capacity as such employee, nominee or agent; “quarter” means a period of three months ending on the 31st day of March, the 30th day of June, the 30th day of September or the 31st day of December; “supplementary card” means a company charge card which is issued by a promoter to a person (other than an individual) and is additional to another company charge card issued by the promoter to that person. (
- b)A promoter shall, in each year (being the year 1982 or a subsequent year), within two months of the end of each quarter, deliver to the Revenue Commissioners a statement in writing showing the number of charge cards, company charge cards and supplementary cards issued or renewed by the promoter during that quarter. (
- c)There shall be charged on every statement delivered in pursuance of paragraph (
- b)of this subsection a stamp duty at the rate of £2.50 for each period of six months or part of six months for which each charge card, company charge card and supplementary card shown in the statement as having been issued or renewed is expressed to be valid.
- b)of this section shall be paid by the bank upon delivery of the statement. (
- b)The duty charged by subsection
- a)In this subsection “due date” means— (
- i)in relation to a statement required to be delivered pursuant to subsection
- b)of this section, the 1st day of April in the year in which the statement is required by that subsection to be delivered to the Revenue Commissioners, and (
- ii)in relation to a statement required to be delivered pursuant to subsection
- b)of this section, the end of the quarter within two months of which the statement is required by the said subsection to be delivered to the Revenue Commissioners. (
- b)In the case of failure by a bank or promoter, as the case may be, to deliver any statement required by subsection
- a)the references therein to securities included references to agreements that are entered into by the Minister for Finance and provide for the making of loans to the Minister for Finance for the purpose of raising money for the Exchequer and to agreements that are subsidiary or ancillary to such agreements, and (
- b)the references therein to expenses included— (
- i)references to expenses incurred in connection with the investigation of proposals for, the negotiation of the terms of, and the entry into, agreements to which the Minister for Finance is a party and under which— (I) moneys accrue to the Exchequer, or (II) expenditure that, but for such agreements, would fall to be met by payments out of the Central Fund (whether of moneys provided by the Oireachtas or otherwise) is met by payments from another source, (
- ii)references to expenses incurred with the consent of the Minister for Finance in connection with the investigation of proposals for, the negotiation of the terms of, and the entry into, agreements to which a Minister of the Government (other than the Minister for Finance) or the Commissioners of Public Works is or are a party or parties and under which— (I) moneys accrue to the Exchequer, or (II) expenditure that, but for such agreements, would fall to be met by payments out of the Central Fund (whether of moneys provided by the Oireachtas or otherwise) is met by payments from another source, and (iii) references to expenses incurred in connection with the investigation of proposals for, the negotiation of the terms of, and the entry into agreements for the issue of securities.
- Description of Spirits Rate of Duty Spirits of any description not mentioned hereinafter and imported mixtures and preparations containing spirits £21.562 per litre of alcohol in the spirits Imported perfumed spirits entered in such manner as to indicate that the strength is not to be tested £19.621 per litre Imported liqueurs, cordials, mixtures and other preparations in bottle entered in such manner as to indicate that the strength is not to be tested £16.603 per litre SECOND SCHEDULE Rates of Excise Duty on Tobacco Products Section
- Description of Product Rate of Duty Cigarettes £16.80 per thousand together with an amount equal to 22.1 per cent. of the price at which the cigarettes are sold by retail on cigarettes manufactured in the State, or imported into the State, before the 1st day of September,
- £17.90 per thousand together with an amount equal to 18.75 per cent. of the price at which the cigarettes are sold by retail on cigarettes manufactured in the State, or imported into the State, on or after the 1st day of September,
- Cigars £30.699 per kilogram Cavendish or negrohead £31.022 per kilogram Hard pressed tobacco £19.840 per kilogram Other pipe tobacco £24.938 per kilogram Other smoking or chewing tobacco £25.906 per kilogram THIRD SCHEDULE PART I Rates of Excise Duty on Wine Section
- Description of Made Wine Rate of Duty Still: Of an actual alcoholic strength by volume not exceeding 15% vol £1.52 per litre Of an actual alcoholic strength by volume exceeding 15% vol but not exceeding 18% vol £2.16 per litre Of an actual alcoholic strength by volume exceeding 18% vol but not exceeding 22% vol £2.80 per litre Sparkling £3.02 per litre Wine whether still or sparkling of an actual alcoholic strength by volume exceeding 22% vol: An additional duty for every 1% vol or fraction of 1% vol above 22% vol £0.21 per litre PART II Rates of Excise Duty on Made Wine Description of Wine Rate of Duty Still: Of an actual alcoholic strength by volume not exceeding 15% vol £1.43 per litre Of an actual alcoholic strength by volume exceeding 15% vol but not exceeding 18% vol £2.01 per litre Of an actual alcoholic strength by volume exceeding 18% vol but not exceeding 22% vol £2.53 per litre Sparkling £2.73 per litre Whether still or sparkling of an actual alcoholic strength by volume exceeding 22% vol: An additional duty for every 1% vol or fraction of 1% vol above 22% vol £0.21 per litre Privacy Statement Accessibility European Legislation Identifier (PDF) Open Data License Ráiteas Príobháideachais Inrochtaineacht Aitheantóir Eorpach Reachtaíochta (ELI) Ceadúnas Sonraí Oscailte Liosta Fianán © Government of Ireland. Oireachtas Copyright Material is reproduced with the permission of the Houses of the Oireachtas © Rialtas na hÉireann. Atáirgtear ábhar faoi Chóipcheart le cead ó Thithe an Oireachtais