EMILY IS single, 30 years old and has been living in Kildare for the past four years.
She works as a physiotherapist and earns an annual salary of €67,000. She drives to work in Dublin every day and is disappointed at the introduction of the €200 levy for a car-parking space provided by her employer.
Emily owns her own two-bedroom apartment and rents the spare room for €600 per month. She avails of rent-a-room relief and, therefore, does not have to pay income tax on the rental income.
She had considered buying a new three-bedroom property in a nearby development. If she did this, she would rent the two additional bedrooms and would expect to yield rental income of €11,500 per annum.
As the Minister has not increased the rent-a-room relief, she will need to reconsider this purchase as she would have to pay income tax and levies on the €11,500.
Emily is also disappointed the Minister has decreased the mortgage interest relief available to those who are non first-time buyers.
She is considering doing a part-time course in sports medicine but notes that no changes were introduced by the Minister to allow her to claim tax relief for tuition fees on part-time courses. Emily will be worse off by €42 per month.
