Pay Related Social Insurance/Universal Social Charge
Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI) is payable by employers, employees and Self-employed persons.
Employers and employees pay PRSI on the employee’s salary after deduction of any contributions to an approved pension scheme.
Employers and employees PRSI is charged on all earnings from employments, including benefits in kind.
Contributions by employees
USC rates for 2021
| USC <70 no medical card | USC > 70 | USC <70 with medical card | |
| Up to €12,012 | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.5% |
| Next €6,656 | 2% | 2% | 2% |
| The next €51,376 | 4.5% | 2.5% if less than €60,000,If > €60,000 4.5% | 2.5% if less than €60,000,if > €60,000 4.5% |
| The balance | 8% | 8% | 8% |
| >€100,000* | 11% | 11% | 11% |
- Applies to self-employed only, if income in excess of €100,000 for an employee the 8% rate applies.
A reduced rate of USC of 2% applies to income over €12,012 to
anyone with a medical card or for individuals over 70 years of age
where the individual has income of less than €60,000 per annum.
The reduced rate of USC for medical card holders is being
extended for a further year. to 31 December 2021
Contributions by employees
USC rates for 2019
| USC <70 no medical card | USC > 70 | USC <70 with medical card | |
| Up to €12,012 | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.5% |
| Next €5,564 | 2% | 2.5% | 2% |
| €17,576 to €70,044 | 4.75% | 2% if less than €60,000,If > €60,000 4.75% | 2% if less than €60,000,if > €60,000 4.75% |
| €70,045 to €100,000 | 8% | 8% | 8% |
| >€100,000* | 11% | 11% | 11% |
- Applies to self-employed only, if income in excess of €100,000 for an employee the 8% rate applies.
PRSI applies at a rate of 4%. Employees earning €352 or less per week are exempt from PRSI.
PRSI applies to non-employment income of employees.
There is a minimum annual PRSI contribution of €500 for self employed individuals.
Employer Contributions:
From 1 January 2021 the weekly income threshold for the higher
rate of employers PRSI will increase from €394 to €398. This
means that the higher rate of employer’s PRSI (11.05%) will only
apply where the weekly pay of an employee is €398 or more.
Employee pension contributions do not qualify for PRSI or USC
relief.
From 2016 employer contributions to a Personal Retirement
Savings Accounts (PRSA) in respect of an employee will no longer
attract a USC liability for the employee.
Employee and employer PRSI and USC apply to all share awards
USC
Certain limited deductions are allowed against the USC, these include;
- Trade Losses and capital allowances
- Business and rental expenses
- Legally enforceable maintenance payments
Exemptions from the USC
- Individuals with a total income of less than €13,000
- The tax free element of a termination payment will be exempt from the USC.
- Statutory Redundancy
- Salary and pension payments made under a PAYE exclusion order to individuals resident in a treaty country.
- Social welfare payments
- Deposit interest already subject to dirt
- Payments made by a spouse under a legally enforceable maintenance agreement, there is no exemption for any element of the payment relating to children
- Payments made where an exclusion order is in place
Employees PRSI
PRSI is charged on all earnings from employment including non-pecuniary income (benefits in kind).
In general, persons between 16 and 66 years, in insurable employment, must pay PRSI.
PRSI
Up to 1 January 2014 there was an exemption from PRSI for
employed individuals and pensioners. There is a 4% PRSI
charge on investment and rental income for PAYE taxpayers
where their non-PAYE income exceeds €5,000 and they are
aged 65 or younger
.
Domicile Levy
A €200,000 domicile levy applies to individuals who are both
domiciled in and citizens of Ireland. Their worldwide income
must exceed €1m, and their liability to Irish tax must be less
than €200,000.
The market value of Irish property owned by the individual on 31
December in the tax year must exceed €5m. Where an
individual is married, the levy could apply to both spouses.
Revenue has the power to issue notices requesting returns
within 30 days.
