Are Household Benefits Taxable?

P

pkwoof

Guest
Are any or all of the Housing Benefits Package Taxable?

I'm guessing that all of them are (as an equivalent to PAYE benefits in kind) but it often pays to find out for sure. In my case I get Electricity, Telephone and TV Licence Credits in addition to my DoSP Contributory Pension now at Age 66.
 
My understanding is that the household benefits package is means tested - but once you qualify for the payments they are not taxable.
 
If one is over 70 or already in receipt of certain DoSP payments (such as the contributory state pension which I have received since my 66th birthday) one is normally automatically entitled to most of the household benefits package (eg telephone, electricity - or similar - and the TV licence fee). In addition such pensioners can also get a pass for free state travel.

Means-testing relates to the winter fuel allowance, a health card and to various other categories of applicants.

See the /en/social_welfare/social_welfare_payments/extra_social_welfare_benefits/household_benefits_package.html page at citizensinformation.ie for further details.

The household benefits are generally given as credits though cash deposits can be organised for most categories instead of having them (for example, the electricity and telephone credits) applied directly to the invoices at source.

I had searched around on-line at both the DoSP and the Revenue Commissioners for some sort of clarification - but without success.

Thanks for the link to the DoSP online query form. I will post back when I have a definitive answer.
 
Household Benefits are not taxable. I checked this out not so long ago for another poster but now cannot find the thread or the info source.

I'll do another search
 
If thesw benefits are considered to be income then I guess they must be declared somewhere on the Form 11 that, as a farmer, I submit each year.

For the tax year to 31.12.2011 the possible sections would appear to have been:
221. Other taxable Social Welfare Payments, Benefits or Pensions.
222. Income in lieu of Social Welfare Payments
414(a). Other Exempt Income.

This didn't apply to me in 2011 but will be relevant when the return for 2012 is made. I would like to be sure which one is correct, without having to include "an expression of doubt".
 
They are not taxable.

About 1m people have a travel pass. Are 1m people including the travel pass ontheir tax returns?? NO.

If they were, then several hundred thousand people aged 70+ would have to submit tax returns.................
 
I had never thought the travel pass was of any relevance in this thread but the other benefits are somewhat different in nature, particularly when they can result in direct payments into one's bank account. The package is not inconsiderable being worth some 800 euro a year to me personally.

Whilst I appreciate everone's opinions it would be very reassuring to come across a direct and official reference.

Not everyone has to contemplate making a tax return, I suppose, but it is a necessity for those self-employed like myself and that being the case making false declarations may not be considered trivial by the authorities.
 
I received the Household Benefits Package in 2011. I submitted my 2011 tax return via ROS on 14th November 2012. From whatever information available on welfare.ie or revenue.ie, I decided it was non-taxable. I didn't express any doubt.

Supplementary Welfare Allowance payments are non-taxable. The Household Benefits Payments are similar in nature but are credits against specific bills ie, gas/electricity, phone, TV licence.
 
Thanks BlackSheep.

Found it at welfare.ie/EN/Topics/payments/Pages/SocialWelfarePaymentsTax.aspx
 
Just received the following reply to my query this morning in an email for the DoSP

"The Household Benefits are not liable for tax therefore I presume you do not have to declare them but better to check with Revenue

Regards Carmel Kennedy-Mahon
Household Benefits/Free Travel Correspondence Team"
 
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