I'm mad as hell and not going to take it any more!

“I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it any more!”

That was the catchphrase yelled on live TV by newscaster Howard Beale in the classic movie Network.

Howard, played by Peter Finch, suddenly cracked after years of reading out “bull****” on the news.

Instead of firing Howard as they initially wanted, the TV network realised that his antics were great showbiz.

They gave him a regular slot where he urged an entire city to lean out their windows and yell his catchphrase.

Well, that’s exactly what I feel like doing after the Budget.

I’ve been writing about Budgets for over two decades and I’m getting as sick of the charade we go through every year as Howard was with the bull**** he was forced to read out on the news.

This is not about whether we should have a conservative budget or a generous one, or whether I get a tax cut or two. It’s about the spin, baloney and downright lies we get fed every year regardless of whether the budget is tough or a downright bonanza.

You need loads of money to pay for stuff. I get it. But just tell it to us straight. Don’t take us for fools as you do year after year by presenting fake tax cuts and pension and welfare increases that are not what they seem - because you disingenuously pretent inflation doesn't exist.

In the film Network, Howard used his TV broadcast to get millions of people to open their windows and all shout together that they weren't "going to take it any more." That might make us feel better - but it won’t make us any better off. There is a way to use the basic principles of the minister’s tricks to get much of our money back.

Politicos like Paschal Donohoe get away with fooling us every year because the tax and benefits system is so huge and complex we don’t fully understand what he is up to.

But the vast nature of the tax and benefits system can work in your favour too.

The minister would be bunched if everyone collected every benefit and tax rebate they are due.

We reveal below how tens of thousands people don’t claim medical cards they should qualify for. That’s a potential saving of thousands each in free medical care worth many millions.

Taxback.com reckons the average tax rebate they manage to get for their clients is worth nearly two grand.

If that were applied across even half the workforce it would be worth over a billion euros. That would wipe out the smirk on the minister’s face!

How to get your money back

There is a way to use the basic principles of the minister’s tricks to get much of our money back from him.

Politicos like Paschal Donohoe get away with fooling us every year because the tax and benefits system is so huge and complex we don’t fully understand what he is up to. But the vast nature of the tax and benefits system can work in our favour too. The minister would be bunched if everyone collected every benefit and tax rebate they are due.

We reveal below how tens of thousands people don’t claim medical cards they should qualify for. That’s a potential saving of thousands each in free medical care worth many millions. Taxback.com reckons the average tax rebate they manage to get for their clients is worth €1900. If that were applied across even half the workforce it would be worth over a billion euros. That would wipe out the smirk on the finance minister’s face!

Here are some of the key ways to keep your money out of the minister’s clutches after the Budget:

Claim your credits

There are a myriad of tax credits. But don’t asssume they automatically apply. “It’s a common misconception that Revenue will automatically apply tax credits,” says Taxback.com.

“If you’re owed tax back for medical procedures, tuition fees etc. you’ll have to sort it out yourself. Also, the basic personal tax credit and PAYE tax credits should be automatically applied but in most cases aren't.”

A biggie that many people miss out on is the home carer credit which is for stay-at-home spouses of employed workers. This went up again in the Budget by €100 to €1600 and is worth exactly that into your hand, so it’s well worth claiming. Yet tens of thousands of people who are due it, don’t seem to claim.

Medical expenses relief

Medical expenses relief is one of the few ways for PAYE workers to save tax – so make sure to make the most of it. Keep your receipts for going to the doctor – a photo will do – and claim and the end of the year. You can backdate claims for four years - as you can with most reliefs.

Electric vehicles (EVs) offer brilliant tax savings. They cost €2,000 a year less to run with lower tax, insurance and maintenance bills. The minister didn’t do much extra for Evs – just €3m for instructure, including charging points for apartment blocks. But he did extend the really attractive incentives that are there already such as zero Benefit In Kind until 2022 and also VRT reliefs on hybrids to 2020. The self employed and businesses can also write off the full cost of an EV in year one, which is a massive boost. If you can’t afford an EV, why not get an electric bike which can be bought for half price with another tax-saving scheme– See A Question of Money.

Pension proof your savings

The deadline for paying annual tax is looming for the self employed at the end of this month. The minister didn’t do anything on pensions, but at least he left the only tax break at the top rate of tax intact. Saving money into your pension will stop Paschal getting his hands on it. PAYE workers can also save more into their pensions through Additional Voluntary Contributions.

Revise – or write - your will

Children can inherit more money from their parents tax-free after the Budget.

So it might be time to revise your will to maximize what you can pass on or give away without getting clobbered by gift or inheritance tax.

The threshold for applying Capital Acquisitions Tax will go up from

€335,000 to €400,000 for gifts or inheritances received on or after the 9th of October.

Over to you, Minister!

Here are also suggested budget measures that would make a difference to our pockets and stop the nonsense of pulling the wool over our eyes by announcing fake tax cuts that are more than gobbled up by stealth tax increases.

Index for inflation, duh!

Most well-run countries’ politicians automatically increase tax bands and welfare benefits in line with inflation.  But every year our buckos pretend inflation doesn’t exist so they can pull the wool over our eyes.

They increase a few benefits and a few tax credits or  bands. Meanwhile the majority aren’t changed and our tax creeps up and benefits downleaving us worse off after each budget “bonanza”.

The cost of telling us the truth, restoring fairness to the tax system and ending the annual budget “tax giveaway” charade is a drop in the budgetary ocean but unlikely to ever happen because they get away with it all too easily.

Fund schools properly

Schools a good deal less money money than they need for running costs – forcing parents to pay the balance.The capitation grant is the shamefully low amount per pupil that the State pays to run our schools. One frustrated school administrator called it less than the cost of a Snickers bar per day. If that remains low, you will be asked to pick up the rest of the tab through “voluntary” contributions to schools that are anything but. The Government promised to address this issue but only did so in a minimal way. It should stop faffing around and restore the Capitation grant to a level that fully funds schools.

Make a meaningful increase in lower tax band

The tax burden on middle Ireland should be targeted as a priority. We pay among the highest level of tax on incomes over €44000 - a level of income at which many people would qualify for welfare supports. Taoiseach Simon Harris should make good on his promise - and his predecessor Leo Varadkar - with a meaningful increase to match average wages that are now €50k.

Increase sin and wealth taxes

It’s easy to say where we should spend more money; it’s a bit harder and much more unpopular to say where it’s going to come from. If we have to increase taxes, it’s better to target wealth (through inheritance tax) or sin taxes, which will change our behaviour for the better. Carbon tax raises money and reduces pollution, which should have knock on benefits on health costs and reduce the fines we face for not meeting our emission targets.