They were actually getting quite a hard time about this on Irish radio over the week.  Most people were writing it off as, well, a tax write off! 

I think fair play to them.  I've thought myself each of the musical instruments I play but I'd have loved to been given the chance to learn in school.  Would have been much more relevant that religion or civic studies!

Despite the cynical timing of the announcement, this is a good thing. I would also have loved to have had formalised art and music classes at my school, with specialised teachers - private lessons are prohibitively expensive for most families.

Anyone who gives millions of their own cash to the civic good is saving the taxpayer money (by not being taken from the Exchequer) and investing in our community. Are charitable donations entitled to tax write-offs in Ireland? They are in France - when you fill in your tax form you add the receipt from whatever donation(s) you made during the year.

Posted By Idiot Kid on 24 Jul 2009 02:50 AM
They were actually getting quite a hard time about this on Irish radio over the week.  Most people were writing it off as, well, a tax write off! 

Gas! Tax payers stand to gain with improved educational opps for their kids without having to put a hand in their own pockets, but nonetheless choose to slag off the offer because it (indeed) might be a tax write off? Just gas. Not that U2 are immune from criticism when it comes to their tax affairs, but this act - no matter how cynical the timing might be - should IMHO be welcomed without the usual begrudged reservations.

Posted By aidan on 24 Jul 2009 03:07 AM
Despite the cynical timing of the announcement, this is a good thing. I would also have loved to have had formalised art and music classes at my school, with specialised teachers - private lessons are prohibitively expensive for most families.

Anyone who gives millions of their own cash to the civic good is saving the taxpayer money (by not being taken from the Exchequer) and investing in our community. Are charitable donations entitled to tax write-offs in Ireland? They are in France - when you fill in your tax form you add the receipt from whatever donation(s) you made during the year.

A company can write off a charitable donation so U2 would be okay.  The likes of you and I however, can't.

Posted By Idiot Kid on 24 Jul 2009 05:44 AM
The likes of you and I, however, can't.

That pretty much sums up a lot that's wrong in Ireland version 2009.

Posted By Idiot Kid on 24 Jul 2009 05:44 AM
A company can write off a charitable donation so U2 would be okay.  The likes of you and I however, can't.

Sorry, but you are wrong. If you go about it the correct way, Private individuals who donate €250 a year or more can get tax relief, though in the case of a PAYE worker, the tax relief goes to the charity rather than you, which is pretty cool in my opinion, it means the government is adding something on top of your donation making it worth much more to the charity than just sticking a euro in some chuggers collection box. Self assessment tax payers can claim the relief back personally. Have a read of this, it's pretty interesting: http://www.aspire-irl.org/tax.htm

Now stop being so cynical. :P

Edit - what people also conveniently forget about is such so-called "tax write-offs" is that U2 are still giving a huge chunk of their own money to a worthy cause, the relief will only be the percentage tax they would have paid on that amount, e.g. if the tax rate was 42%, they are only getting 42% of that amount back. What this means is that the taxpayer effectively isn't losing out on 42% but getting the 58% spent on social causes for free! The only downside for the taxpayer is that the donor rather than the Irish state is getting to decide how that money is to be spent, which in a way, may not be a bad thing either.

Posted By Binokular on 24 Jul 2009 07:01 AM

Posted By Idiot Kid on 24 Jul 2009 05:44 AM
A company can write off a charitable donation so U2 would be okay.  The likes of you and I however, can't.

Sorry, but you are wrong. If you go about it the correct way, Private individuals who donate €250 a year or more can get tax relief, though in the case of a PAYE worker, the tax relief goes to the charity rather than you, which is pretty cool in my opinion, it means the government is adding something on top of your donation making it worth much more to the charity than just sticking a euro in some chuggers collection box. Self assessment tax payers can claim the relief back personally. Have a read of this, it's pretty interesting: http://www.aspire-irl.org/tax.htm

Now stop being so cynical. :P

That's good to know; thanks.