From Department of Finance; Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform
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An Exchequer deficit of €11,681 million was recorded to end-October 2020. This compares to a deficit of €1,697 million in the same period last year. The €9,984 million year-on-year deterioration in the Exchequer balance is primarily driven by increases in voted current and capital expenditure. Cumulative tax receipts of €42,609 million at the end of the period were down by 5.3 per cent or €2,364 million on last year. Receipts-to-date have benefitted from a strong performance in January and February as well as solid income and, on a cumulative basis, corporate tax receipts, which have compensated — to an extent — for sharp declines in other tax heads, notably VAT and excise receipts.
October tax receipts were heavily impacted by two key issues. Firstly, payments will be made under the Covid Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS) in November. Some €550 million has been held back by the Revenue Commissioners to help pay these cash transfers to businesses, reducing the income tax and corporation tax heads by €275 million each. Secondly, excluding the CRSS-related deduction from corporation tax receipts, returns are still significantly below those received in October 2019. The department was aware there would be an under-performance in October and this was taken into account in the department’s projected outturn for 2020, published at Budget 2021. The shortfall in corporation tax receipts this month underlines the volatility of returns under this tax head.
Total net voted expenditure to end-October was €53,947 million. In year-on-year terms, this was up €10,723 million, or 24.8 per cent on the same period in 2019. The rise in expenditure reflects increased departmental drawdown in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in relation to the Department of Health and the Department of Social Protection.
Commenting on the figures, the Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe TD said:
"Today’s Exchequer returns highlight two key issues in relation to the public finances. Firstly, the level of support given to businesses under the government’s new Covid Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS) is very significant and is having a material impact on the Exchequer deficit. Despite the cost, it is appropriate that Government steps in to help businesses during this time. Secondly, a more medium-term issue is the unreliability and unsustainability of corporation tax receipts. As I have said many times before, we cannot rely on this revenue stream into the future; a fact that will be reflected in the department’s medium-term forecasts when published in the spring."
The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Michael McGrath TD said:
"Today’s figures also show that the government has continued to direct an unprecedented amount of resources at fighting the pandemic. Spending on our health service is at record levels. So too is the amount of resources aimed at protecting incomes. We will continue to use the resources of the State to protect citizens, business and communities through this crisis. The increased expenditure necessitated by COVID-19 is warranted in view of the exceptional circumstances we face, and allows us, for example, to ensure our schools remain open, that public services continue to be provided and that community and sporting organisations receive vital support."