Ireland's Tax Statistics 2021

Value Added Tax (VAT) is the main element of the taxes on products (D.21) category, representing 63% of D.21 in 2021. In 2021 €16.6 billion in VAT revenue was generated, compared to €3.7 billion in 1995. VAT revenue has been steadily increasing over the years with the exception the global financial crisis and, more recently, the impact of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions on businesses and society.

Excise duty is the next largest category of D.21 – representing 24% of D.21 in 2021. There was €6 billion in excise receipts in 2021 compared to €2.6 billion in 1995. 34% of Excise duty is from alcohol and tobacco products with 25% from hydrocarbon products (i.e. petrol and diesel).

Taxes on products also include Stamp duty (€2 billion in 2021), Customs duties (€519 million in 2021) and Other Taxes which includes the Risk Equalisation Fund and National Lottery Surplus.

Figure 3.1 shows the main tax heads over time. There were some notable events over the period which are reflected by changes in the tax revenue. In 2008 there was a notable decrease in revenues of VAT, stamp duty and excise duty, this period coincides with the financial crisis. VAT was also impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.