ICMSA ‘quietly confident’ that farm income volatility to be addressed in October Budget

THE October Budget is looming up on the horizon and speculation is turning naturally to the intentions of Ministers Noonan and Donohoe. The fact is that when growth rates are being revised on practically a weekly basis with knockon effects for Government revenue, it becomes extremely challenging to put forward spending plans or tax changes that, by their nature, must rest on a fixed or at least a constant flow of revenue. The state’s 18,000-odd dairy farmers are only now beginning to see a market recovery after nearly 16 months of receiving a milk price of up to six cents per litre below the costs of production, their specialist representative organisation, ICMSA, says it’s perfectly aware of challenges around constant or climbing bills and diminishing – or disappearing – income. Its President, John Comer, says that no sector in Ireland experienced the kind of income wipeout suffered by milk suppliers since 2015 but that they understand the dilemma faced by the Government and recognise that the demands for higher spending become hugely problematic in the kind of uncertain economic atmosphere engendered by, amongst other things, the Brexit decision.

But he was adamant that there are actions and decision that can be made that are effectively spending neutral. “One of the most destructive aspects of farming is the kind excessive income volatility that makes it impossible for family farms to plan or invest with any degree of predictability. CSO figures show that total dairy income for 2015 was down €222 million on 2014 despite a 14 percent increase in production. ICMSA has long argued that it must be possible to introduce measures that would allow farmers to deposit funds in ‘good’ years in a tax compliant and Government approved fashion that could be drawn down and utilised in the more frequent ‘ bad’ years”, said Mr Comer.

“That’s the reason why we’ve put forward the Farm Management Deposit Scheme (FMDS) as part of our 2017 pre-Budget submission. The scheme allows a farmer to claim a tax deduction for farm management deposits in the income tax year in which they are made, the appropriate amount of the deduction is included in the tax assessable income in the income year the deposit is repaid to the farmer. The deposits scheme complements other risk management strategies available to farmers such as income averaging. Our model places a maximum threshold for off-farm income of a person availing of this tax measure and there is an overall ceiling on the amount that can be deposited in the Farm Management Deposit Scheme. We believe the proposal has many merits and most definitely should be used as a template for the introduction of a farm income volatility management tool into the Irish income tax code for farmers based on the following five basic outlines:

1. ICMSA believe limits could be placed both on the total amount that could be deposited in a given year and the aggregate amount at any time and suggest a maximum deposit per annum of 30 percent of farm profit and/or a maximum of €10,000. Funds would remain in the Farm Management Deposit account for a maximum period of 5 years. In addition, ICMSA recommend that 12.5 percent tax should apply on a once off basis for the amounts deposited in the farm management account. This would give all the advantages of incorporation without the necessary cost of compliance and uncertainty associated with farm companies.

2. Farmers would then be able to avail of these funds in the farm management deposit account to support the farm business in the event of a downturn in farm income and/or for investment in the farming enterprise.

3. Where funds are taken from the farm deposit account in the form of income then the normal rate of tax applicable in the year of withdrawal would apply to these withdrawals less a credit for the 12.5 percent tax which was originally paid on the funds when deposited in the farm deposit account in the first instance.

4. This tax relief measure could be confined to farmers whose sole or principal income is from farming. Realistic off-farm income thresholds should be set.

5. On-farm investment using funds from the farm management deposit account would qualify for all reliefs currently available for on-farm investment such as capital allowances.

“We think that the time is here for the introduction of a tried-and-tested tool that addresses destructive farm income volatility in a sensible and Government-approved fashion. The FMDS contained in our pre-Budget submission does exactly that. We’re quietly confident that a sensible examination of the problem will testify to that and every farmer in Ireland will want to see the introduction of this measure in the coming Budget”, concluded Mr Comer.