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Tax receipts up 6% signal a workers-first budget 2027
Published 07:31 7 Aug 2026 BST
Updated 09:32 7 Aug 2026 BST
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What the tax receipts mean for workers
The Government has collected €59.6 billion in tax receipts in the first seven months of 2026, up 6% or €3.4 billion on the same period last year, according to the latest monthly exchequer returns.
Tánaiste and Finance Minister Simon Harris said the growth strengthens the coalition's hand ahead of Budget 2027.
Income tax remains the engine of the public finances, accounting for €21.9 billion, up 7.5% on 2025 and, Harris said, a sign of a labour market "running at full employment".
VAT receipts, driven by consumer spending up 9.7%, reached €16.3 billion, though the reduced VAT rate for food businesses and hairdressers that began on 1 July won't show up in the figures until September.
Corporation tax, which the Department of Finance again warned leaves Ireland over-reliant on a handful of tech giants, made up €15 billion, or 25% of all receipts, even as households still feel the cost-of-living squeeze.
"Budget 2027 will strike a careful balance: we will deliver a package that will help workers keep more of their earnings," said Harris, "while continuing to invest in our public services and critical infrastructure.
Harris added that "in a deeply uncertain world" a "sensible and sustainable approach to fiscal policy" mattered more than ever.
Total gross voted spending hit €64.9 billion to the end of July, up 7.4% on 2025. As set out in the July exchequer returns, the figures give ministers room to move before October's Budget.
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