tax WEDGE
Note that these figures refer to the tax wedge, which is different from the overall tax burden.
Say you get paid 100 gross. It might cost the employer 10.75% PRSI so the cost to them is 110.75. After you pay income tax and PRSI you bring home 80.
The tax wedge is (110.75 - 80) as a percentage of 100.
The tax wedge is all the income tax and PRSI paid by employees and employers, as a fraction of the gross wage.
Employer's PRSI is up to 40% in other countries, and employees PRSI can be 20% easily. For example, German pension contribution (employee and employer) are 22% alone.
In Ireland employers pay a low 10.75% and workers pay 4%, with an allowance and an exemption. However, in return, our pensions are not generous, just €167 per week, and are not indexed to wages. This means many people have extra occupational or private pensions. Whereas in return for the 22% contribution, the German pensions are 55%-65% of wages.
Similarly, the high PRSI in other countries pays for free or subsidised healthcare. Here, some heathcare is free or subsidised.
By the way, how would people feel about paying 22% of wages in mandatory pension contributions???
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